Blaydon 27 Darlington Mowden Park 14

TWO tries by Yarm School centre Ben Stevenson made the difference as Blaydon avenged their December drubbing at the Northern Echo Arena.

Stevenson is clearly a lively prospect, whose pace comfortably took him clear for both tries.

His second was a 75-metre interception and as Blaydon also scored a breakaway try at the death they were slightly flattered by the margin.

But their experienced forwards generally gave them control against opponents who peaked in mid-season when they had a settled side.

Although the enforced shuffling has given a late-season opportunity to Rory Duff, the outstanding player in this game, Mowden have been unable to regain their fluency.

Players who might have added some star quality to a game which lacked sparkle were absent through the withdrawal of all dual-registered Newcastle Falcons players.

The Falcons have an A League semi-final away to Exeter tonight, which will involve five Blaydon men in Andrew Foster, Will Witty, David Nelson, Brett Connon and Ruaridh Dawson.

Mowden were unable to call on hooker Santiago Socino, flanker Joe Craggs or lock Seb Ferreira, who is injured anyway. The greater loss came through fly half Warren Seals' knee injury and tight head Ignas Darkintis' absence on international duty with Lithuania Mowden were at their best when they beat Blaydon 51-11 at home, when the second row pairing of Rob Conquest and Tom Jubb were outstanding.

But while it has been known for some time that Jubb would be leaving, it has now been confirmed that Conquest has also signed for fellow National One club Coventry.

The only conclusion to be drawn from Conquest's glowing praise for Mowden is that he is going for financial reasons.

“It has been an amazing two years and I have absolutely loved it,” he said. “I have never been involved with a group of players who have got on so well. Working with the community team has also been great.”

This was not as feisty an encounter as expected, given the simmering resentment at Blaydon over Victor Guignouard's seven-week ban, although they blame the RFU disciplinary procedure rather than Mowden.

The Frenchman was reported by a Mowden fan for abusing a ball boy and Blaydon secretary Jim Huxley said: “An England player got two weeks for abusing an official. It's one law for the rich and a different one for the poor.

“It took a long time for the case to be heard, then the judge said Victor would have to wait until his broken thumb healed before the ban started. We won't see him again. He has gone home to France shocked by the sentence.”

Young Jack Beckwith proved a capable deputy in a strong front row, while Mowden lost reserve hooker Gaston Demergasso before half-time.

That forced Simon Uzokwe to take over in a role for which he was groomed in early season, but it merely confirmed that he is better suited to the back row.

Mowden showed early enterprise and took the lead through a brilliant finish by winger Jake Henry, who took a pass by his ankles and stepped inside to score. Fly half Chris Auld converted.

Blaydon drew level when Tom Rock made a half break following a line-out and found Stevenson, who sprinted under the posts from 30 metres.

Despite having Talite Vaioleti sin-binned for the last ten minutes of the first half after pulling down a maul, Mowden hung on, helped by Andrew Baggett missing an easy penalty.

But they shot themselves in the foot after the break, conceding an early penalty which Blaydon kicked to the corner for Jason Smithson to score his 25th try of the season.

Mowden began to take risks and a long pass was easily intercepted by Stevenson, leaving him a clear run to the posts.

Baggett converted and added a penalty when Mowden conceded an extra ten metres for backchat.

That made it 22-7, but Mowden were back in it when Bruno Bravo jinked over from a ruck and swiftly drop-goaled the conversion via a post.

They pressed again and Uzokwe thought he had been driven over, but Smithson broke from a five-metre scrum and the ball was hoofed downfield to end Mowden's hopes.

Blaydon regained the ball, moved it left and replacement winger Nathan Bailey somehow stepped between two tacklers to score.

The lack of a bonus point meant Mowden slipped back below Esher and were also overtaken by Rosslyn Park, who won away to champions Richmond.