BLAYDON shrugged off the shock of a seven-week ban for hooker Victor Guignouard by pulling further away from danger in National One.

They won 26-8 at home to Coventry, despite second-choice hooker David Nelson falling ill and being replaced by 18-year-old Jack Beckwith.

Blaydon are nine points ahead of the club in the third relegation spot, Wharfedale, for whom things are looking ominous after a 30-21 home defeat by Loughborough.

Frenchman Guignouard was suspended by the club for a week following an incident in the match at Mowden Park in December.

Blaydon thought that was the end of the matter, but they understand that a spectator reported him to the RFU for using foul language towards a ball boy.

His disciplinary hearing on Friday night lasted for several hours and he will not play again this season as the ban does not kick in until he has recovered from a broken thumb.

Conditions were not conducive to open rugby on Saturday, but Blaydon were happy to secure the bonus point through three forward tries after Zach Kibirige scored the first.

He chased a clever kick by Tom Penny, which was fumbled on the line, then Jason Smithson scored from two catch-and-drives to take his season's tally to 16.

Coventry also scored from a driving maul and added a penalty, making it 19-8 at half-time. The only score of the second half was a penalty try, awarded for constant infringements under pressure. Andrew Baggett added his third conversion.

For Wharfedale, skipper Josh Burridge opened the scoring on his return from suspension following his dismissal at Mowden Park five weeks ago. But a 21-17 interval lead was not enough.

Tynedale dropped back to the fringe of the relegation zone in National Two North when they lost 34-3 in tricky conditions at South Leicester. They trailed 27-3 at half-time and are only a point ahead of third-bottom Sale, who have a game in hand.

Billingham's home match against Birkenhead Park in Three North was postponed and West Hartlepool must have wished their North One East game at home to Morpeth had gone the same way.

A 21-15 defeat dealt a decisive blow to their slim hopes of catching second-placed Morley.

Outplayed in the first half, West trailed 14-3 until Liam Bailey's try ten minutes from time gave them hope. But an 80-metre interception try by Morpeth meant that Aaron Myers' try deep into injury time earned only a bonus point.

The top two in Durham and Northumberland One stepped up their battle for the automatic promotion spot.

Durham City avenged their only defeat, at home to Consett, in emphatic style, relishing the artificial surface with eight tries in a 54-3 win.

Winger Sam Heron scored the first on the way to a 19-3 interval lead before No 8 Peter Dent went on to complete a hat-trick. Fly half Paul Armstrong landed seven conversions.

Middlesbrough signalled they will not give up their pursuit of City as they scored seven tries in a 41-3 home win against Acklam to remain five points behind.

Boro scored three tries in the first 15 minutes, starting when Jack Bircham came into the line from full back and put in a deft kick for Ben Wood to touch down.

The next two both followed several phases of play, fly half Matthew Todd forcing his way over before flanker Liam Wilson appeared on the left wing and held off a tackle to score.

Acklam had little ball but after a rare foray they kicked a penalty, only to concede the bonus point try when Sam Gaudie dropped the ball backwards over his shoulder but collected it then dummied and side-stepped under the posts.

He converted for a 22-3 lead at half-time and from the restart Boro moved the ball right then left for Rhys Kilbride to score.

After a long kick Acklam's attempted clearance was fielded by Euan Tremlett, who offloaded to James Pennington to score.

Acklam kept the game tight for a while before another failed clearance resulted in Kilbride's second try.

Stockton recorded a third successive win and dented Ponteland's survival hopes with a 14-3 away victory.

Despite the visitors' early domination, Ponteland broke out to score, but Stockton went ahead after 20 minutes when Phil Douglas ran strongly down the right before passing inside for Todd Highfield to score.

The scoring was completed five minutes before half-time when Ponteland lost possession on their 22 and Charlie Doherty raced over in the corner, Jeremy Good adding his second conversion.