BLAYDON missed the chance to close in on the National League Three North leaders when they went down 21-20 at home to promotion rivals Bradford.

Blaydon, two places behind their second-placed opponents from Yorkshire, fell behind in the tenth minute when Joseph Heta scored under the posts and Tom Rhodes added the conversion.

Richard Windle hit back with a penalty, but Heta increased the away side's lead after a neat dummy created space for him to score.

Windle again reduced the arrears with another penalty to make the score 12-6 at the break and when Paul Clark touched down near the posts and Windle added the conversion it looked like the home side might run out victors.

But they shot themselves in the foot when they handed Bradford three penalties and Rhodes accepted the gifts.

Although Martin Shaw set up a score for Robert Windle, converted by brother Richard, Bradford hung on.

Injury-ravaged Darlington were denied victory at the death by a controversial refereeing decision in their clash with Macclesfield.

Darlington were forced to field a weakened side after losing the likes of player coach Craig Lee, brother and captain Paul Lee, David Glendenning, Ben Snook and the division's leading try scorer Alan Brown.

Entering the sixth minute of time added on, Darlington were leading 14-13 thanks to a penalty by Lee Davies.

However, their good work was undone when, after awarding the County Durham outfit a penalty, the referee reversed his decision and Macclesfield took the opportunity with both hands to grab the win.

Macclesfield had taken the lead early in the match, going 5-0 up after the ball was driven over following a quick line-out.

A Davies penalty on 21 minutes kept Darlington in touch, but they went further behind when a scrum close to their line led to a try.

As half-time closed in Darlington reduced the arrears to 13-6 and they then began to put their stamp on proceedings, Davies' penalty giving them hope of taking maximum points. That was until the official intervened.

Tynedale took derby honours against Darlington Mowden Park, running out 11-7 winners at Yiewsley Drive.

In a less-than-inspiring match, Tynedale took the lead after two minutes when Phil Belgian's penalty opened the scoring.

After a spate of penalties, Belgian kicked another penalty in the 20th minute.

Mowden got themselves back into the game in controversial fashion when it appeared Tynesdale's Hamish Smales had made a mark but the referee gave a lineout after he crossed the line. The home side drove forward, with Matt Barker eventually driving over for the try. Dixon's conversion put them 7-6 up at half-time.

However, Tynedale were not to be denied and Scott Breerton's second-half try proved to be the difference.

Middlesbrough were thumped 44-0 by Westoe in North One with Bell, Smith and Holland all scoring tries. Haswell kicked a penalty and a conversion to make the score 20-0 at the break.

Bell, Smith and Holland were all on the scoresheet again after the interval with Wilson also making his mark.

West Hartlepool's four-game winning run under returning coach Dave Stubbs was ended as they lost 23-13 at Morpeth.

With West leading 13-6, thanks to a Paul Moss penalty and tries from Martin Todd and Peter Hodgson, but a slack last half hour proved their downfall.

Peter Cole intercepted a pass to race away for a simple try and, after Matty Jinks kicked his third penalty of the game, a late Paul Burns try completed the scoring.

In North Two, Durham eased to a 30-0 win over Driffield. Fielding a stronger side than the one which lost at Hartlepool Rovers in December, Smith, Stanley and Showler crossed over for tries.

Stockton's bottom versus top clash with Penrith in Powergen North Two East ended predictably, the Teessiders going down 41-3.

Stockton were never in the game, with Penrith making better use of the lineout and set scrum. They also squandered a lot of first phase ball, with Penrith's backrow holding sway and dominating the rucks and mauls.

Stockton were penalised for going over the top almost in front of their own posts, and Penrith opened the scoring to make it 3-0.

The referee gave an offside decision against Stockton 16 minutes in and they fell further behind from the subsequent penalty.

After more pressure from the Cumbrians they added to their lead in the 20th minute with a try and conversion to make it 13-0 and it stayed that way until the second half.

Stockton put up more of a fight after the restart and scored a penalty through Jeremy Good.

However, they were caught by surprise immediately after the game got underway again, Penrith kicking the ball deep, regaining possession and sending their left-winger over for the score.

Hopes of a Stockton revival died there and the misery was compounded when Penrith's No.8 benefited from some loose play and ran from 35 metres to score. The conversion made the difference 27-3.

Injury added to insult shortly after when Good left the field with an ankle problem and Peter Armstrong had to be replaced after taking a blow to the face.

Penrith scored a try on the right from an interception and the conversion made it 34-3.

Stockton ran out of steam and the match was wrapped up in the last minute with another converted try.