Mowden’s trip to Sheffield Tigers last Saturday was postponed, allowing Stourbridge to take over at the top of National Two north with a 38-0 win at home to Leicester Lions.

Stourbridge now appear to be in better form than the other promotion candidates, Macclesfield, whose Director of Rugby, Geoff Wappett, was ordered off during the 26-3 win away to bottom club Dudley Kingswinford.

He was told to leave the technical area during the first half, allegedly for using abusive language, and was ordered off altogether late in the game as winless Dudley forced Macclesfield to concede a string of penalties.

The Cheshire club are now level on points with Mowden, with Stourbridge two points ahead, having played a game more.

Most of the postponed matches lower down the leagues will be fitted into the reserve day this week, although Darlington’s scheduled visitors, Bishop Auckland, already had a rearranged match to fit in at Novos.

Darlington have little chance of catching Durham and Northumberland One leaders Horden, who stretched their lead at the top to 12 points when they beat Stockton 45-3.

They scored an early try and Stockton, with seven changes from the original selection, replied with a penalty by Dan Phinn.

The score was still 5-3 after 20 minutes but Horden suddenly took control with four tries in ten minutes to make the half-time score was 31-3.

Northallerton retained their mid-table position in Yorkshire Three when they won 27-3 at home to Harrogate Pythons with Martin Dennison scoring two tries.

Northallerton are due to play Halifax in a cup game tomorrow, but Halifax may have a rearranged league game to play instead.

The seconds hope to get back into action at Wetherby after their game at Darlington Mowden Park was postponed.

The thirds won 34-0 at Hartlepool Rovers with powerful No 8 Ben England leading the way with three tries.

Further tries came from captain Peter Barraclough and semi-retired veteran H Johnson, while Jedd Bainbridge added three of the five conversions plus a penalty. The thirds are at Whitby tomorrow.

  • Darlington Mowden Sharks No 8 Jo Brown is the only player from the North in the England Women Under 20s team to play France at Esher tomorrow. The team lost 27-0 in France earlier this month.