AS Darlington Mowden Park prepare to resume National One action at home to Coventry tomorrow, the visit of the once-mighty Midlanders is just one indication of how Mowden are thriving.

They have had several players on international duty recently and are looking forward to attracting a big crowd to The Northern Echo Arena for next Friday evening's double header.

First they hope to see Joe Craggs win his second England Under 18 cap against Scotland at Newcastle Falcons' Kingston Park ground tonight. He went on from the bench for the last 30 minutes in a 21-5 win against France at Doncaster last week.

A back row forward, Joe is the son of club stalwart Andy Craggs, a former first team full back, and is with the Falcons' academy.

Mowden skipper Cameron Mitchell played the full 80 minutes when the England Counties XV beat a Scotland Clubs XV 37-3 at Fylde last Friday and will hope for another call-up for a match against a French Federale XV in Perigueux on March 20. That will be followed by two games on a tour to Romania in early June.

No fewer than six Mowden Sharks were in the England Women's squad for the 11-8 defeat in Ireland. Skipper Katy Mclean and vice-captain Tamara Taylor were joined in the side by winger Ruth Laybourn and lock Abbie Scott, with Fiona Davidson and Heather Kerr on the bench.

They will hope to feature again on their home ground in the double-header against Scotland next Friday, when they kick off at 7.35 after the Under 20 international, which starts at 5.30.

That match is likely to involve Paul Hill and Jack Walker, the front row forwards who appeared for Mowden in early season on loan from Yorkshire Carnegie. Both featured in the Under 20s' 19-14 win in Ireland last Saturday. Hill is to play for Northampton next season.

After their week off, Mowden begin their six-match run-in against a Coventry side who threatened to challenge for promotion before slipping into third place.

While Mowden prosper, the end of the season cannot come quickly enough for Darlington, who slipped into third bottom place in Durham and Northumberland One when they lost 26-19 at Blyth, who are one place below them.

A home win against the same opponents and a victory away to bottom club Sunderland are Darlington's only wins in their last 14 games, having started with four wins from the first seven.

Nor is there much reason for optimism in the remaining five games, starting with tomorrow's visit of leaders Guisborough.

The Cleveland side are neck and neck with Morpeth, who won 53-0 at home to Stockton, but Guisborough will be confident of automatic promotion because they have the easier run-in.

A few weeks ago Darlington looked secure in fourth bottom place, but then they lost heavily at Ryton, who climbed above them last Saturday by winning 28-24 at Novos.

The long-winded process of sorting out their ground-sharing arrangements with Darlington FC appears to have prompted those in charge at Blackwell Meadows to take their eye off the rugby ball.

They seem to have lost the fight they mustered prior to last season, when they vigorously resisted a move to switch them into Yorkshire One, a fate which befell Acklam, who lost every game.

Middlesbrough were obliged to take up a Yorkshire One spot this season but now know how difficult it will be to get out. Despite lying fifth, they are 31 points behind the second-placed club.

After leading 7-6 until five minutes from time at Scarborough they had to settle for a losing bonus point in a 13-7 defeat and were left to rue missing two easy penalties.

Simon O'Farrell landed a far more difficult kick to convert a try by full back Jack Bircham following a good run by Rhys Kilbride in the first half.

It was 7-3 at the interval and after the hosts kicked another penalty Boro were hit by a spate of yellow cards. But they defended heroically, only to concede the decisive try when back up to full strength.

Northallerton remain sixth in Yorkshire Three after losing 25-17 at Old Otliensians, who are one place above them. North are at home to Rotherham Phoenix tomorrow.