Mowden hope for better things after tough run

They will also be grateful to return to normality after slipping to next to the bottom of National One following a 32-20 defeat away to new leaders Ampthill.

Given that their last three games have been away to sides in the top four, Mowden's struggles are not unexpected. But things should now get easier with a relatively short trip to Wharfedale tomorrow, followed by a home match against Loughborough Students.

As in the trips to London in the previous two weeks, they were beaten in the first half at Ampthill, trailing 20-3 before again having the better of the second half.

They also dominated the first ten minutes in Bedfordshire, but were unable to put points on the board prior to Ampthill breaking away and being awarded a penalty.

Mowden introduced three dual-registered players in home-grown flanker Joe Craggs and his Newcastle Falcons colleague Ed Coulson, plus Rotherham lock Toby Salmon.

Italy A flanker Luca Petillo also made his first start as Mowden made seven changes and switched Callum Mackenzie from back row to wing.

After a match in which an enormous amount of time was spent re-setting scrums, Mowden continue to ponder their best front row combination.

Hooker Simon Uzokwe and Darren Fearn were replaced inside 30 minutes, but went back on late in the game.

Garry Law cancelled out the early Ampthill penalty, but the hosts were awarded another penalty at a scrum and a penalty try when the next scrum went down, which Mowden felt was harsh.

The No 8 drove over from a ruck before scrum half Bruno Bravo nipped over for Mowden on the stroke of half-time.

That gave them hope at 20-10, but the battering of the home forwards produced a try straight after half-time before Coulson, a member of the England Under-20s squad, went on at full back and scored after three minutes.

Ampthill again hit back with their fourth try before Uzokwe finished off a fine move in the 80th minute for his fourth try of the season.

Middlesbrough came back from 18-3 down at half-time to beat Ryton 37-24 and move to the top of Durham and Northumberland One.

It took only ten minutes of the second half for Boro to go ahead, Phil Harland atoning for his early sin-binning with a try before Ryton received two yellow cards in quick succession.

A neat off-load by Euan Tremlett allowed Andy Micklewright to score under the posts, Jack Bircham converting, then a Ryton player's deliberate knock-on earned a penalty try.

Skipper Rob Bellerby looped round in midfield and broke through two defenders to score, then Mike Thornburn was driven over for the final try, with Bircham adding his third conversion to his two penalties.

Stockton won 19-13 at home to Horden after trailing 13-6 following an 80-metre interception try early in the second half.

Flanker Liam Healey crashed over before Dan Phinn kicked his third penalty, then Martin Dixon touched down a pushover try.

An improved performance by Darlington earned a losing bonus point in a 29-25 defeat at Gateshead and they will hope for their first win tomorrow at home to Acklam.

Darlington dominated the scrums and were leading 25-22 when a fracas resulted in a player from each side being sent off and the lack of props forced uncontested scrums.

That worked to Gateshead's benefit and they sealed victory with a converted try.

Northallerton moved up to sixth in Yorkshire Three with a 28-5 win at home to Baildon, whose young squad hoped to exploit North's lack of backs.

With the previous week's four-try hero Pat Hebblethwaite out with a rib injury, Doug Mulholland celebrated the birth of his son with a return to first team action at scrum half.

At the first scrum, North drove the Baildon pack back and won the penalty. The next 15 minutes were evenly balanced before fly half Jedd Bainbridge released centre Jonny Franks into a gap for a 20-metre gain.

Hands in the ruck allowed North to kick the penalty to the corner, producing a catch-and-drive try for Joe Osleton.

The bulky, bearded prop injured a rib and was replaced, to Baildon's dismay, by the bulkier, beardier Craig Naisby.

With the forwards beginning to make their weight advantage tell, Bainbridge again set one of his centres free, Joe Grieff crashing up the middle, and two phases later North were camped on the try line.

Naisby briefly had to retire, so Oselton returned and Baildon's scrum was driven back for a penalty try to be awarded. Iain Macleod's second conversion made it 14-0 at half-time.

The second half was quite a drab affair, with North using their obvious advantage in the forwards to stifle Baildon.

When turnover ball did allow the visitors to spin the ball wide, their winger found Tom Cornforth blocking his path and, with the prospect of being the next victim of the notorious Cornforth Crunch, he dropped the ball.

After 65 minutes, North set up another driving maul and full back Macleod touched down on the right.

Picking and driving against the tiring Baildon pack allowed Dave Lawrence to grab his first try of the season and earn the bonus point. Macleod again converted to cap a perfect day with the boot and take his personal tally to 13.

Baildon's late consolation came when the full back collected a loose kick and side-stepped three defenders to cross in the corner, spoiling an otherwise excellent defensive performance.

Northallerton visit Stocksbridge tomorrow and the second team host Richmondshire. With the clubhouse refurbishment complete, the kitchen will be open for business during and after all games.