DARLINGTON Mowden Park will be hoping things get a little easier at Hull Ionians tomorrow after their tough run of games ended with a 24-17 home defeat by Plymouth last Saturday.

But Ionians arrested their rapid slide towards the relegation zone by winning at Henley last week and can be expected to battle hard.

Mowden will be seeking a return to the fluency which has disappeared over the last three weeks against the top sides' strong defences.

Injuries haven't helped, particularly the late withdrawal of skipper Gareth Nesbit with a neck problem. He was replaced by Ralph Appleby at loose head and when acting captain Rob Conquest retired with 20 minutes left, followed by hooker Santi Socino, Mowden lost their shape.

Once a 17-7 lead early in the second half had become a 24-17 deficit with 13 minutes left, it was clear there was no way back as the run of four successive games against sides in the top five had taken its toll.

The pack worked hard to get on terms following early scrum difficulties, but after the substitutions they lacked balance and experience towards the end.

It was disappointing for a big crowd of 1,328 to witness the first home defeat since November.

Man of the match was Plymouth's powerful No 8 Herbie Stupple, who scored all three of their tries. He was in the sin bin when Mowden forged ahead through a converted try and a penalty either side of half-time. But once he returned the visiting pack took control.

It probably made little difference that Mowden centre Ben Frankland was in the bin when the winning try was scored, although his yellow card did highlight the inconsistency of officialdom.

The referee took a touch judge's word that Frankland was guilty of a deliberate knock-on, yet a Plymouth player who committed the same offence in the first half was not sin-binned.

Despite going backwards in some early scrums, Mowden clawed their way into the game and after Warren Seals was just short with a penalty from near halfway, a good attack was snuffed out by an interception.

Mowden took the lead after 29 minutes when scrum half Bruno Bravo took a quick penalty on the 22 and made it to within five metres.

The ball was moved left then right, with wingers Jake Henry and George Wacokecoke both just short before Seals drove over and added the conversion.

Plymouth came back with a pushover try, but Mowden went back in front in added time. From a five-metre scrum, No 8 Ollie Hodgson's off-load was deliberately knocked on, resulting in a penalty.

Mowden ran it and while Plymouth did well to keep them out, Stupple's interference resulted in his sin-binning. Again the penalty was run and this time flanker Simon Uzokwe was put through a gap by Wacokecoke for his 16th try of the season.

Seals' conversion from wide on the right made it 14-7 at half-time and he added a simple penalty three minutes after the break.

But the return of Stupple proved decisive. Plymouth kicked a simple penalty and levelled the scores after 60 minutes when the No 8 forced his way over from close range.

The winning try came seven minutes later, again following strong forward pressure, ending with Stupple ploughing through a pile of bodies in the left corner.

The full back converted from the touchline, which at least did not deny Mowden a losing bonus point.

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

Another bonus point win at Novos tomorrow could see Boro draw level as City are on National Intermediate Cup duty.

They scored three tries in the first 15 minutes against Acklam, 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.

The bonus point try was scored by Sam Gaudie, who converted for a 22-3 lead at half-time. There were two second-half tries for winger Rhys Kilbride and one for back row man James Pennington.

Stockton recorded a third successive win and dented Ponteland's survival hopes with a 14-5 away victory.

Ponteland broke out to score against the run of play, 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.

Darlington lost 53-8 at Horden and are unlikely to gain their first win of the season at Gosforth tomorrow.