DARLINGTON Mowden Park shrugged off their woeful run of six games without a point with a 48-31 home win against Esher last Saturday.

Tomorrow's visit to another club just above them, Fylde, provides another chance to move well clear of the bottom three in National One.

The immaculate kicking of fly half Warren Seals helped to earn him the man of the match award, but he must have been pushed close by hooker Santiago Socino.

The Argentine has been granted some bench outings by Newcastle Falcons recently and showed his class on his return to Mowden.

A bustling runner who rides tackles, he set the tone with a first-minute break as Mowden made a lively start. He continued to make inroads, as did on-loan prop Joe Sproston.

As they await the return of Ollie Hodgson to the back row, No 8 David Fisher joined the long list of casualties from that department and his replacement, Rory Duff, also limped off.

Considering it was a high-scoring game following Mowden's try drought, few scores resulted from open play and wingers Adam Radwan and Joel Gill had little chance to show their paces.

Most of the tries followed penalties to the corner, starting when Fisher drove over. Socino finished a catch-and-drive and Esher managed something similar just before half-time after staying in touch by kicking three penalties.

They had the gap down to 17-16, but Seals landed a penalty with the last kick of the first half and on the resumption Socino made a break then exchanged passes with Garry Law before sending Ben Frankland over.

After another penalty to the right corner the ball was moved left and full back Josh Bragman made a half break before off-loading for Radwan to finish.

Esher suddenly showed more urgency and got the gap down to eight points before Mowden sent on last season's skipper, Gareth Nesbit, with 11 minutes left.

Esher had the put-in at a scrum five metres from their line.

They won the strike but held the ball in the scrum and Mowden drove them off it. When the ball squirted out, replacement flanker Callum Mackenzie pounced to score.

Like the previous four tries, this killer blow was scored wide on the left, but Seals nailed the conversion. With the game won, he retired and Bragman converted the sixth try after replacement centre James Fitzpatrick forced his way over nine minutes into added time.

Although Barnard Castle's match at Ryton was postponed, their position at the top of Durham and Northumberland One was strengthened by second-placed Westoe's 39-30 defeat at Stockton.

The young Stockton side dominated until the closing stages.

A 60-metre move produced the first try for Jonny Horner, then prop Rhys McHugh scored before full back Dan Phinn glided through for the first of his two tries.

Flanker Tom Nelson also touched down and Steve Bartliff added four conversions and two penalties. Stockton visit Barnard Castle tomorrow.

Middlesbrough beat Medicals 29-13 with Sean Richardson and Peter Homan making a difference in midfield. Winger Sean Moloney scored the first, then Euan Tremlett crossed following a good break and pass from his brother, Toby.

Centre Ross McNeill scored just before half-time and prop Josh Lynas was driven over for the bonus point before Toby Tremlett took a quick penalty to score at the death.

Darlington moved up to sixth in Durham and Northumberland Two when they won 64-14 away to bottom club Seaton Carew.

Northallerton travelled to Yorkshire Three leaders Knottingley and put in a valiant effort before losing 27-19.

North conceded three soft tries in the first 20 minutes, all of which should have been avoided. The forwards then got to work and were rewarded with a catch-and-drive try from Simon Manthorpe.

Just before half-time Knottingley scored the best try of the day, the ball passing through seven pairs of hands for a 22-7 interval lead.

The second half was a stop-start scrappy affair with North scoring two tries to one. Jacob Sankey touched down and a penalty try was awarded when a home player was yellow-carded for deliberately pulling down a maul.

North were unlucky not to come away with at least a losing bonus point, which their second-half efforts deserved. They are at home to Wensleydale tomorrow.

The seconds could only field 13 at home to Newton Aycliffe, but ran the opposition close in a last-minute 21-24 defeat. Tries were scored by Kris Stephenson, Ian Cockings and Trevor Mould, who converted all three.

The seconds are scheduled to visit Acklam tomorrow.