DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK produced one of their best 40-minute displays of the season as a run of 25 unanswered second-half points enabled them to claim a 33-10 win at Fylde and climb to fifth position in the National One table.

Mowden successfully overturned a two-point interval deficit to run out comfortable winners on the Lancashire coast, with their three second-half tries ensuring they took home an extra bonus point into the bargain.

Having drawn their home game with Flyde earlier in the season, Mowden fell behind to an early try, only for full-back Henry Robinson to cross shortly after to level the scores.

Reduced to 14 men when hooker Charlie Maddison was sent to the sin bin, the visitors conceded a second try midway through the first half, but a penalty from Grant Connon ensured they were only trailing 10-8 at the break.

That deficit disappeared when Connon slotted over two penalties at the start of the second half, and when Fylde were reduced in numbers themselves following the sin-binning of their full-back, Mowden took full advantage to assume an unassailable advantage.

Joe Maud rounded off a rolling maul from a catch-and-drive move, with Connon adding the extras, before Robinson’s searing pace enabled him to pierce through the Fylde defence for his second try of the game.

Connon’s conversion made it 28-10, and Mowden secured their bonus point in the closing stages when fly-half Connon rounded off a fine individual display with the all-important fourth try.

The win means Mowden have won five of their six matches since the turn of the year, and sets them up perfectly for Saturday’s derby with a Tynedale side who have slipped into even deeper trouble at the bottom of the table.

Tynedale produced an improved display as they claimed a losing bonus point from a 23-16 defeat to Hartpury College, but Old Albanians’ win over Blaydon means the Northumberland side are now eight points adrift of safety.

Newcastle Falcons prop Mark Irving scored a first-half try for Tynedale, but Alex O’Meara’s late try ensured Hartpury would claim a hard-fought win.

Blaydon suffered a 19-18 defeat in St Albans, with a couple of late penalties from Dan Watt proving crucial.

England Counties lock Keith Laughlin scored two tries as Blaydon forged ahead, but the second-half sin-binning of Robbie Morris and Craig Willis proved crucial as Old Albanians rallied to claim the narrowest of victories at the death.

Billingham went down to 47-45 to Firwood Waterloo in National League Three, while Percy Park’s North One East promotion push was dented by a 44-13 loss at Dinnington. West Hartlepool went down 27-25 to Horden in the same division.

In Durham and Northumberland One, Consett and Durham City played out an entertaining 17-17 draw, while Gosforth edged out Darlington 22-21 in a close-fought affair.

Hartlepool Rovers beat Stockton 16-13, with a last-gasp penalty proving decisive after the visitors to the New Friarage had earlier led thanks to a try from Joel Simpson.