As usual when these sides meet the tension is high, with both sides anxious to keep things tight. Quarter of an hour into the game Darlington was awarded a penalty. Dom Fox stepped up to open the scoring with a well taken penalty kick just inside the Mowden 22. Darlington 3 Mowden 0.With so much at stake both sides kept making handling errors but Darlington began to take charge of the scrums. Mowden keep pressing forward and eventually force a mistake from Darlington and are awarded a penalty on the Darlington 22. The scores are tied at 3 all after half an hour. Once again Darlington’s line out is working really well, winning all our ball and causing problems with Mowdens ball. A Darlington penalty allows Dom Fox to gain a great position five metres from the Mowden line. The line out is taken and quick ball gets Tom Day into action and he crashes over for the first try of the game. No points are added so the score is Darlington 8 Mowden 3. Within two minutes of the restart the Darlington backs secure the ball deep in their own half, good hands get the ball to Mickey Stevens inside our 22. He sets off on one of his lightning runs, leaving the Mowden defence in his dust to score a magnificent try under the posts, from his own 22! Dom adds the extra points and Darlington lead 15 points to 3. Mowden bounce straight back and pin the Darlington team back on our own line. Some sterling defence keeps the Mowden pack at bay, before Daz Catterick clears our lines to take play back to half way.

The half time whistle goes and Darlington leads 15 pts to 3.

Mowden start the second half looking to get back on terms, within five minutes the Darlington back line is breached and poor tackling fails to deflect Mowden from their task and they score their first try. The extra points are added so now things look much better for Mowden with the score, Darlington 15 Mowden 10. Darlington continue to look for a way through the Mowden line, at the twenty two minute mark, Darlington intercept a Mowden pass and get the ball out to Mickey on the wing with predictable results. He disappears again to score his second try, Dom adds the two points. Darlington 22 Mowden 10. With just over 5 minutes remaining Darlington slow the game right down, the forwards keeping possession. The full time whistle goes and Darlington win the County Cup, the last seconds marred by some players who decide that wrestling is a better spectator sport than rugby! A hard fought match that saw good performances from both sides; notably for Mowden their Full back whose kicking and positional play was excellent. It would have been good to congratulate the Mowden boys and coaches in the club house at the post match meal but unfortunately none of the team deemed it necessary to attend, what a pity. Men of the Match - Phil Jones and Jonny Coates.

A special mention to the Darlington squad who all contributed to this memorable victory, players and subs (especially the u15 boys who gallantly helped us out), very well done.