Mowden run amok again
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.
9:48am Monday 14th April 2008
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