MOWDEN Park will take stock during a week off after suffering three more injuries in a 50-7 defeat away to National One leaders Hartpury College.

Since losing exciting full back Henry Robinson to Rosslyn Park, they have tried four players in the No 15 shirt and the original choice, Jamie Barnard, was injured for the second time this season.

He left the field with a knee problem after 24 minutes, at roughly the same time as leading try scorer Simon Uzokwe, whose successful conversion from prop was brought about by the loss of four hookers in the last year.

He aggravated a rib injury suffered the previous week and made way for ex-Plymouth man Tom Harrison, meaning Mowden had three props in the front row.

One of those, Ralph Appleby, developed a knee problem with 15 minutes left and was replaced by flanker Rory Duff.

Having to travel for six of their first eight games, four of them against sides in the top six, has left Mowden on the back foot. But at least the three teams below them in the table also lost.

The rest enforced by tomorrow's World Cup final gives them welcome breathing space ahead of next week's visit of Richmond, for whom ex-Mowden men Cameron Mitchell and Jack Allcock scored three tries between them in Saturday's 54-5 home win against Henley.

As in the four previous away defeats, Mowden found themselves well adrift at half-time. They were outgunned by a lighter pack as the well-drilled students dominated the set piece in the first half to lead 24-0.

Their strength was underlined by a line-out steal bringing the first try and a catch-and-drive producing the fourth just before the break. The two in between were scored by wingers, but should not have been awarded.

One was a 70-metre effort following a blatantly forward pass and there was a knock-on in the build-up to the other.

Shortly after half-time Mowden failed to deal with a speculative kick and a kind bounce allowed Hartpury to score again, then another line-out try made it 38-0 before Mowden began to get a foothold in the game.

Callum Mackenzie, who again had to settle for a place on the bench, replaced winger Michael Tait and burst over to score, with Garry Law converting. But Hartpury added two more tries in a powerful finish.

Mowden fielded a strong pack in the second team's 13-5 home win against Wharfedale, although Talite Vaioleti, normally a back five man, had to be pressed into service at prop.

The back row of Joe Craggs, Ollie Hodgson and Seb Ferreira have all featured in the first team this season, while lock Rob Conquest was almost ever-present last season.

He scored a try and the other came from Fijian centre John Biu, with centre Eti Slater adding a conversion and penalty before the visitors scored late on.

Darlington's woes show little sign of easing as they shipped 50 points for the third successive week and for the fifth time in their eight straight defeats.

The 54-7 reverse at Consett left them rooted at the foot of Durham and Northumberland One and took their points difference to minus 300. They will also be glad of a week off ahead of next week's visit of Horden.

Middlesbrough lie second after a 43-3 home win against Gateshead, with skipper Rob Bellerby and winger Rhys Kilbride scoring two tries each.

The other winger, Ben Wood, made an impact as an improved performance by the forwards allowed Boro to build on a 17-3 interval lead. The other tries came from Conner Foley, Toby Tremlett and Michael Thornburn, with Simon Moore adding four conversions.

Despite a 25-minute period in which they scored 18 unanswered points, Stockton crashed 52-23 at Medicals.

They dominated the first half, but had nothing to show for their early efforts then went 12-0 down before fighting back, only to concede a converted try on the stroke of half-time to trail 19-18.

With the wind behind them, they expected to take control, but whenever they tried to move the ball wide they gave away possession and Medicals capitalised.

Stockton's tries were scored by Mark Conway, Craig Slaughter and Steve Tampin, with Dan Phinn adding a conversion and two penalties.