TEN years after the last severe floods, Tynedale's pitches were under six feet of water on Saturday and the clubhouse was also flooded.

The National Two North match against Luctonians, from Herefordshire, was postponed and they will be battling to get things shipshape for December 19.

Harrogate are the scheduled visitors on what is also designated Christmas Party day.

Blaydon endured what their coach driver described as the worst drive of his life in getting back from Cinderford after a 12-10 defeat.

Like the match, the journey was undertaken in 50mph winds and they were grateful to get back from deepest Gloucestershire at midnight.

Cinderford, who started the match bottom of National One, were strengthened by a lock from Exeter, a fly half on loan from Bristol and the return of former England Counties winger Nev Codlin.

He scored after four minutes, but despite facing the wind Blaydon's forward strength kept them in the game and they went in level at half-time following a catch-and-drive try by Jason Smithson.

The restart on the resumption was kicked dead and from the resulting scrum Cinderford kept the ball for nine minutes before ex-Blaydon player Sam Hanks scored.

The conversion proved crucial as it took Blaydon until ten minutes from time to make their pressure count. Smithson scored again from a scrum, but Brett Connon's conversion from wide out hit an upright.

Billingham won 23-5 at home to Three North strugglers Huddersfield YMCA, earning the four-try bonus through Joe Evans, Danny Dixon, Martin Hopley and Adam Radwan.

West Hartlepool stayed third in North One East with a 23-10 home win against Percy Park.

The strong wind gave West enormous problems at the line-out and may have denied them three points when the ball fell off the tee. But Gavin Painter did land two penalties and convert his brother Ryan's try for a 13-5 interval lead.

Facing the wind, West were rewarded for excellent ball retention after visiting fly half John Scott scored from a scrum with several players involved in a scuffle.

West hit straight back with Sam Miller starting an attack which featured Joe Willis, Chris Atkins and Stu Waites before Greg Edwards finished it off.

West continued to frustrate their visitors and Jack Angus made sure with a try from close range.

Durham City maintained their one-point lead in Durham and Northumberland One with a 42-12 win at Stockton.

The hosts went ahead with a well-worked try by centre Steve Tampin, but City threw the ball around in difficult conditions and romped into a 35-5 interval lead.

There was one try each in the second half, Stockton's being an individual effort by fly half Jonny Horner.

Second-placed Middlesbrough won 26-6 at home to Horden after switching to the less waterlogged second team pitch.

Horden chose to play into the gale and the fact that they won plenty of possession helped them to keep Boro out, despite being pinned in their 22 for long periods.

Ben Wood and Euan Tremlett went close early on, but with the wind disrupting handling it took until the 25th minute for Boro to score.

Wood took a ball at pace to cross in the right corner and Sam Gaudie judged the wind perfectly in converting.

Lock James Wardle scored the second after Richie Lonsdale almost got to the line and when the ex-Northallerton man did get over on the stroke of half-time Gaudie's third conversion gave Boro the cushion they needed.

They had to defend in the second half and conceded penalties on five and 14 minutes, but Horden’s big ball carriers appeared to be tiring.

With ten minutes left Boro won a line-out on halfway and the ball was moved out to Wood, who outpaced the defence to score in the corner and secure the four-try bonus.

Darlington's 27-10 defeat at Medicals left them 14 points adrift of third-bottom Ryton, who won 14-8 at home to Gosforth.

Barnard Castle stepped up their promotion bid in division two when they came through their tricky test at Redcar with a 19-5 win.