Mowden make Blaydon suffer without Guthrie

Just as in their surprise win at New Brighton, they were down to the bare bones with backs coach Kevan Oliphant on the bench.

Scrum half Shaun Richardson, centre Matt Howland and prop Ian Keeligan were the latest additions to the casualties, but the most crucial absentee was Blaydon skipper Dave Guthrie.

His team are not happy about suggestions that they can't perform without him, but the statistics provide damning evidence and both Darlington clubs, as well as Blaydon, will hope he's back for next week's home game against Cleckheaton.

Blaydon were also without prop Fatu Tulaga, who has had flu and went on for the last 15 minutes, and they were always struggling against a side they had dominated three weeks earlier.

Mowden benefited from being able to call on two Newcastle Development forwards in prop Ed Kalman and Jason Smithson, who was outstanding at open side.

Matt Holmes, back from injury, and Paul Evans completed an impressive back row, while the front row of Danny Brown, Tasi Tuhana and Kalman laid the foundations for the first win in eight games.

With Peter Phelan switching to scrum half, Matthew Brown and Fosita Tanginoa, normally a back row man, had to play on the wings.

But the uninspired Blaydon backs were unable to create any openings, with the previously excellent Nick Wainwright looking a fading force as he prepares to leave for Australia at the end of the month.

Blaydon had hoped to bring in David Falconer for Guthrie, but he had been on manouevres with the army for three days so it was felt best not to risk him and Chris Stewart stepped in.

Only No 8 Gavin Stainsby matched the effort of the Mowden forwards, who were unfortunate to lose both locks. Ian Robinson went off at half-time with a knee injury and Luke Monument was sent off following a second yellow card as the game entered injury time with the score 26-6.

Both cards were for pulling down in the line-out and the second one resulted in a penalty try for Blaydon, the conversion making it 26-13.

With replacement flanker Matt Wright in the sin-bin, Mowden were down to 13 men and under the cosh with four minutes of injury time left.

But Iain Dixon kicked a penalty, then rubbed his former teammates' noses in it by breaking from his own 22, dashing up the wing and cutting inside one defender and outside another to score.

Mowden had gone ahead after four minutes, when the forwards won good ball and fly half Martin Shaw surged through a gap to score under the posts.

They continued to take the game to Blaydon, who did eventually manage 15 minutes of pressure, which ended with Mowden breaking away to score.

Shaw was again involved, along with the back row, and Evans finished the move, with Dixon converting for a 14-0 interval lead.

Helped by the diagonal wind, Blaydon came out strongly and Dan Clappison kicked two penalties, while Darlington had to send on Peni Fakalelu for Kalman, who had a shoulder injury.

Mowden were still proving stronger in the maul and after 49 minutes Fakalelu was driven over. More forward pressure brought a try for Tuhana with ten minutes of normal time left, Dixon converting prior to his injury time heroics.

Westoe are one step from Twickenham after reaching the semi-finals of the Powergen Intermediate Cup with a 26-11 win away to London Two North club Shelford.

Playing downwind on a muddy pitch, they scored after eight minutes through winger Mark Olugbode and further tries came from back row man David Bowyer and centre Graeme Haswell.

Two conversions by Paul Hagan made it 19-0 and Westoe defended superbly after the break. Shelford kicked two penalties, but didn't cross the line until injury time, and even then Westoe came back with a try by skipper Gareth Nesbitt.

Middlesbrough climbed a place to third from bottom in North One with their third win of the season, by 26-3 at home to Altrincham Kersal.

Young Liam Goodall continued to do a good job at scrum half as deputy for Peter Wright, who could be back next week, while lock Ian Bradford was the pick of the pack and skipper Gavin Fingland did well on his return.

Boro, who led 16-0 at half-time, scored two tries in each half, with Simon Moore adding two penalties.

The first half tries came from forward drives, No 8 Richard McRae finishing the first, while the second produced a penalty a metre from the line. Hooker Richard Horton took it quickly and dived over.

Following a brief Altrincham rally, which produced a penalty, it was all Boro and after a good run by Goodall the forwards took it on and Craig Chapman scored.

Finally centre Lee Richardson collected a kick ahead to score after more good work by the pack.

Stockton also eased their relegation worries in North Two East, moving up a place to fourth from bottom with a 12-0 home win against Malton and Norton.

Playing downwind, fly half Jeremy Good kicked from one corner almost to the opposite one and under the resulting pressure the visitors infringed three times and a penalty try was awarded.

Another drive produced a try for flanker Wayne Brown and with Good hitting the bar with a 40-metre penalty it was felt a 12-0 interval lead might not be enough.

But with Mark Skirving outstanding at lock and centre Graeme Kell racing back to put in a try-saving tackle, Stockton comfortably held out.

Northallerton won 44-12 at home to York RI in a rearranged Yorkshire Two fixture.

Full back Stuart Watson scored two tries and the others came from Ian Townsend, James Read, Martin Dennison, Sam Davison and Steve Robinson. Jason Bingley added three conversions and a penalty.