ADAM RADWAN’S hat-trick of tries helped ensure Darlington Mowden Park maintained their fine recent form with a bonus-point win at Old Albanians.

Mowden leapfrogged their opponents to move up to ninth position in the National One table as they claimed a 35-29 victory in St Albans.

The visitors enjoyed a perfect start as returning lock Talite Vaioleti powered through a ruck to score from close range, but with Luca Petillo sent to the sin bin after a high tackle, Old Albanians rallied to claim two tries of their own and establish a 14-7 lead.

Radwan’s first try changed things, with Josh Bragman adding the conversion to level the scores, and Mowden’s in-form winger outsprinted the opposition defence again shortly after to claim his second try and ensure the visitors boasted a 21-17 lead at the break.

Mowden were reduced in numbers again after the interval, with prop Jack Payne sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, and Nick Foster’s try saw Old Albanians reclaim the lead.

However, with Payne back on the field, a series of forceful Mowden attacking moves resulted in a five-metre scrum that led to back rower Matt Heaton powering over from close range.

Bragman’s reliable kicking put Mowden further ahead, and the game was effectively settled when Radwan claimed his hat-trick as he raced home from 40 yards.

Foster’s last-minute try ensured Albanians claimed two losing bonus points, but Mowden were still able to maintain their surge up the table.

Blaydon were also able to celebrate a bonus-point victory as they claimed four tries in a 28-11 home win over Blackheath.

Hooker Matt Thompson was the star of the show, claiming his second hat-trick of the season as the power of the Blaydon pack proved decisive.

Jack Davidson scored Blaydon’s final try, with fourth-placed Blackheath only able to add a solitary penalty in the whole of the second half.

“That performance was outstanding,” said Blaydon director of rugby Micky Ward. “In the last three games, the lads have really enjoyed themselves. We stuck to our game plan, and our defence was terrific.”

Blaydon remain just one place above the foot of the table, but have moved level on points with 14th-placed Hull Ionians.

Tynedale edged an extremely close contest at Chester in National Two North, winning 11-10, while Billingham were 36-21 winners over Lymm in National Three.

West Hartlepool reclaimed a top-two spot in North One East as they came from behind to claim a 21-17 win over Percy Park.

West were trailing 12-0 at the interval, but scored three second-half tries through Zac Southern, Peter Youll and Sam Miller.

Durham City were on the wrong end of a 50-8 thrashing at Alnwick, while Guisborough went down 45-12 at Malton and Norton.

The Teesside derby in Durham and Northumberland One finished in a 19-19 draw between Stockton and Middlesbrough.

Stockton were first on the scoresheet when Phil Douglas scampered over and Steven Bartliff converted, but Boro fought back with a converted try.

Stockton full-back Dan Phinn crossed to establish a 12-17 half-time lead, and while Middlesbrough scored two more tries to turn the game on its head, the scores finished level after Bartliff converted Phinn’s late try

Gateshead’s three-match winning run came to an end when they suffered a 19-10 defeat to Consett in a match that was overshadowed by a serious shoulder injury that saw Gateshead winger Matt Rawlinson transported to hospital.