Mowden run amok again

9:48am Monday 14th April 2008

Darlington Mowden Park 52 Rugby Lions 0 WATCHING their heroes top 50 points for the second successive home game might have warmed a cheerless, chilly day for Mowden fans. But they would surely rather watch a contest.

That will come with next season's elevation to National Two if they win the play-off at Cinderford in two weeks.

The Forest of Dean club are certain to finish second in Three South, but Saturday's 28-16 loss away to champions Mounts Bay was only their third defeat of the season.

Mowden need to win at Morley to make sure of the play-off or hope Fylde lose at Tynedale, but if everything goes to form Mowden should finish seven or eight points clear in second place.

Tynedale fielded half a dozen Newcastle players in Saturday's 37-7 win against Preston Grasshoppers, and there is no reason for them to do Fylde a favour unless they see Mowden as a threat in the auction for Falcons youngsters next season.

Given a fair wind, as opposed to the Macclesfield morass which briefly checked their march, Mowden's high-speed rugby will surely prove too hot for Morley.

Then even if they fail to win their share of possession against what are expected to be strong Gloucestershire forwards, their clinical finishing and ability to counter-attack must give them every chance at Cinderford.

Apart from the blistering pace of people likes James Clark, who scored the first and last of Saturday's eight tries, Mowden also have five or six forwards who are comfortable in midfield.

Led by tearaway flanker Aaron Myers, they also impressed through their aggressive defence, which often drove their visitors back and resulted in a lot of turnovers.

The line-out is a potential weakness, which should be strengthened by 6ft 7in No 8 Peter Browne next week, although Tony Begovich underlined his reluctance to make way.

He put in a lot of the graft which made it possible for others to seek the glory.

Mowden were helped when Rugby's main line-out forward departed with a shoulder injury after 15 minutes, to be replaced by a midget.

He packed down at blind side with the No 8 moving forward, and although Rugby defended stoutly for 20 minutes once the second try had gone in their resistance slowly faded.

Rain midway through the first half threatened to put a dampener on proceedings and resulted in the pitch starting to cut up in the second half.

But Mowden kept up their impressive handling, with experienced inside backs Jon Benson and Jamie Connolly pulling the strings. Benson also landed three out of four conversions in each half.

The first try was almost a replica of the brace Clark scored in the 60-14 win against West Park St Helens. From turnover ball just inside halfway the outside centre took Benson's long pass at pace and scorched through a gap before sprinting round the full back on a curving run to the posts.

Prop Danny Brown's liking for popping up out wide paid off when he took Charlie Rayner's off-load to score from close range.

Then full back Ben Snook latched on to another long pass from Benson to send Iain Dixon over in the left corner.

The winger almost squeezed in again but managed to off-load for skipper Jamie Connolly to touch down.

Mowden continued to favour the left corner as the forwards drove down the touchline shortly after half-time and hooker Ross Batty peeled off on the blind side to run in from eight metres.

The game went flat for a while before scrum half Andy Foreman took a quick penalty 30 metres out and raced away to score without a hand being laid on him.

Then lock Paul Vinnicombe, always a threat in open play, slipped a tackle on the 22 to charge over, and finally good handling sent Clark clear up the left wing.

No-one was going to stop him and he ran round behind the posts for his 11th try of the season.

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