IT was another bad day for the North-East's two National One clubs, especially Blaydon as they conceded 11 tries at Esher.

A four-try bonus point was scant consolation in a 71-24 drubbing, while Darlington Mowden Park got nothing from their 29-14 defeat at Loughborough.

The Students took a 22-0 interval lead before Mowden sent on James Fitzpatrick and the powerful centre scored two tries.

The second half performance was much-improved, and with Caolan Ryan adding the conversions the gap was down to eight with 15 minutes left.

But Loughbrough mounted an excellent attack from inside their own half to score their fourth try.

Esher scored twice in the first five minutes against Blaydon and had the four-try bonus midway through the first half as the visitors' defensive frailties were cruelly exposed.

Tries by centre Tom Small and hooker Jack Beckwith gave them hope, only for Esher to add three more before the break for a 45-12 lead.

Blaydon's other tries came from winger Dan Marshall and centre Brett Connon, who added two conversions. But unless they can find their first win at home to Fylde this week the alarm bells will be ringing.

Tynedale remain in mid-table in National Two North after hanging on for a 26-22 home win against Preston Grasshoppers.

A 19-3 interval lead was stretched by winger Harry Hadfield with the bonus point try, but the Hoppers hit back with three tries in the last 12 minutes.

Winger Oliver Walker bagged a brace for Tynedale after centre Jack Harrison scored the opener. Ash Smith landed three conversions.

Billingham are third in Three North after hammering bottom club Stockport 79-10, while West Hartlepool moved clear at the top of North One East with rivals Penrith losing at Pocklington.

West won 37-7 at home to bottom club Wheatley Hills, whose No 8 was sent off following a 28th-minute fracas.

Liam Checksfield grabbed a hat-trick, scoring two from centre and the third from the left wing, when he easily rounded his marker.

Hooker Ross Wood burrowed over for the first try then John Bunter charged down a kick to score. Gavin Painter converted and ended the first half with a cross-field kick for Checksfield's first.

The centre grabbed a loose ball on halfway to race away for his second two minutes after half-time and there was also a try for No 8 Sam Miller, who surged over from a scrum.

Barnard Castle moved into second place in Durham and Northumberland One, one point behind Northern, when they won 30-15 at home to Middlesbrough.

Boro began strongly in the first meeting between the clubs and a forward drive plus good handling brought an early try.

But the home forwards then applied pressure and following a penalty to the corner Andrew Bell finished off a catch-and-drive.

Sam Errington converted, but a penalty put Boro back in front prior to a lengthy period of deadlock, which was broken by Rob Stanwix exchanging passes and crashing over for a 12-8 interval lead.

Chris McTurk was a constant threat from full back, and Barney's pressure was rewarded by two penalties from Errington before Boro scored a converted try to reduce the gap to three.

Barney were not to be denied and in a pulsating final ten minutes Phil Larder touched down after another line-out drive. Errington adding an excellent conversion, before McTurk raced over from his own 22.

Stockton finally put together a competent performance to outclass Hartlepool Rovers and earn their first win of the season by 20-3.

Following a minute's silence to mark the passing of former Stockon forward Graham Docherty, a lively start saw fly half Jonny Horner touch down after good support play.

Dan Phinn then cut through the middle and outpaced the defence from 60 metres and Steve Barliff again converted for a 14-0 lead.

A sweetly-struck Bartliff penalty stretched the lead before Rovers pulled one back to make it 17-3 at half-time.

Rovers were more lively in the second half but Stockton defended well and Bartliff added another penalty.