Darlington Mowden Park 29 Coventry 21

IF it's possible to face a dilemma after a fourth successive win, it is posed for Mowden Park by the supersub who clinched this victory.

They trailed 21-17 when Simon Uzokwe went on with 15 minutes left, but his impact even denied Coventry a losing bonus point.

It meant that for the second successive season the Midlanders' ambition to regain former glories were badly dented at the Northern Echo Arena, where they could have no complaints about the conditions.

On Mowden's annual Ladies Day the wild weather may have kept the crowd below 1,000, but the groundstaff's hard work ensured a good surface and the stadium provided shelter from the wind.

Uzokwe is clearly a hit with the ladies, who were in raptures when he twisted over for an injury time try.

Having scored seven in the first seven games, this was his first in five. But he has had little game time since Mowden began their winning run.

The only reason to change a winning formula is to make it even better and they also have to involve a new Australian centre or full back in Jacob Woodhouse, who went on for the last half hour.

The selection headache will be heightened if, as expected, fly half Grant Connon is fit next month.

The Uzokwe dilemma partly concerns finding his best position. The 21-year-old Sunderland University student arrived last season from Ipswich as a prop. After switching to hooker he caught the eye through his early season try spree, but in the last two home games he has gone on at blind side.

His arrival came straight after Coventry kicked a penalty to extend their lead when down to 14 men, the first two yellow cards having come in quick succession midway through the first half.

Coventry have the worst disciplinary record in the division and while they held on well when short-numbered on Saturday it prevented them from building momentum.

They looked good at the outset, a precise chip by the fly half setting up an attack which required a try-saving tackle by Jake Henry.

After kicking two penalties to the corner Coventry went ahead through a catch-and-drive, but Mowden replied in kind four minutes later through prop Darren Fearn.

Coventry went back in front with a penalty before being reduced to 13 men. The No 6 was first to go for illegally halting a strong rolling maul, the penalty producing another catch-and-drive, finished by Rob Conquest.

Having converted the first from the left touchline, Garry Law was successful from the right and when a Coventry prop was sin-binned he landed the penalty for a 17-8 interval lead.

The visitors dominated the first ten minutes of the second half, kicking a penalty before the scrum half broke from a ruck on the 22 and turned the ball inside for a try by the posts.

The conversion put them a point ahead, but with Tom Harrison on for Fearn, Mowden came back strongly, only to be held up on the line.

It wasn't looking good when Coventry kicked another penalty, but Uzokwe's arrival provided the required impetus.

He made ground before another penalty to the corner produced a try for flanker Luca Petillo.

Then in added time Mowden opted for a five-metre scrum when awarded a free kick at a line-out. Uzokwe and Bruno Bravo were both stopped just short before Uzokwe wriggled over and Law's conversion left Coventry pointless.