DARLINGTON Mowden Park's first away win of the season lifted them out of the bottom half in National Three North, and it was more comfortable than the 25-16 scoreline at Dudley Kingswinford suggested.

Durham referee Mike Reid awarded a penalty try to the hosts three minutes into injury time, telling Mowden it was for persistently killing the ball, although no-one was yellow carded.

The converted try flattered Dudley, who had been outplayed after taking an early lead with a penalty.

The Mowden front row dominated, and flanker Jonny Boatman took his chance superbly alongside Richard Arnold and Tom McLaren, who were again very influential.

Full back Iain Dixon and winger Dave Richardson crowned good performances with a try each, while Martyn Bray tackled well at centre.

But it took Mowden until the 28th minute to go in front after Mark Bedworth kicked a penalty inbetween two by Dudley.

Winger Andy Foreman picked up a loose ball in his own half and shot away to set up Dixon, who finished off from 22 metres.

Bedworth converted then scrum half Richard Holbrough got away from a ruck 35 metres out and beat four men on his way to the line, making it 15-6 at half-time.

Mowden conceded a silly penalty on the resumption, then Bedworth had two chances, kicking one and missing the other.

The points finally began to look safe after 64 minutes when Richardson followed up a long kick by Bedworth and the ball bounced kindly for him to go under the posts.

Blaydon dominated for the first 20 minutes at Macclesfield, but at 8-3 ahead they lost their way and slumped to a 25-11 defeat.

Skipper Dave Guthrie - very much the Martin Johnson of the Blaydon team - had to cry off, forcing James Houghton to return at lock a month after having 21 stitches in an eye injury.

He was harshly sin-binned for handling on the deck when the ball appeared to be out, and while he was off Macclesfield moved into a 16-11 half-time lead.

As Dan Harper was still unfit, Blaydon were forced to play George Donoghue, despite a shoulder problem. He lasted 50 minutes then Peti Keni switched from No 8 to prop and was sin-binned for a scrummaging offence.

After booting Tynedale to defeat the previous week, Macclesfield fly half Geoff Bell kicked six penalties and converted their only try, while David Dalrymple had a rare off-day for Blaydon.

Although he kicked two penalties, he missed three and failed to convert the try, scored by Donoghue.

A 75-metre run from a tap penalty by scrum half Peter Wright was easily the highlight as Middlesbrough consolidated third place in North Two East with a 27-10 win in a poor game at Sandal.

No 8 Dean Gardiner picked up from a scrum to score just before half-time and give Boro an 8-3 lead, then hooker Richard Horton was driven over.

Wright's try followed, with Danny Bishop adding his second conversion, and Boro moved the ball out for winger Danny Poole to score a good late try. Sandal's converted try came at the death.

Westoe moved up to fourth, leapfrogging visitors Horden with a 39-7 win after a converted try by Paul Bruce had given Horden the lead.

It was a good try stemming from a long pass by new fly half Ian Dobson, but the pace and handling of the Westoe backs then proved decisive.

There were two tries each for full back Ryan Beattie and winger Paul Hagan, who also added the goal points, and the most spectacular try came from Australian fly half Luke Kelly.

Every time Horden threatened they lost the ball and Kelly capitalised on a knock-on by racing over from his own half.

Fly half Jeremy Good secured a 10-10 draw for Stockton at home to York, converting his own late try to add to his first half penalty.

York led 10-0 after 30 minutes, but then Stockton dominated and were well on top in the last 20 minutes. Awarded five successive penalties, they kept going for the line and felt they should have had a penalty try, but finally Good broke through following a scrum and went under the posts.

West Hartlepool won 25-5 at home to bottom club Northern, who scored a try to lead 5-3 after an early 40-metre penalty by David Tighe.

He was able to convert only one of the four tries as they were all scored wide out, the first coming when Phil Wallis sent Peter Hodgson over.

Tighe's break then set up new winger Steve Black, Andrew Davies drove over off the back of a maul and finally centre Allan Milne burst through a gap to score.

Redcar lost 29-18 at Bridlington, despite tries from Paul Beal and Mark Patterson, with Gareth Foreman adding the goal points.

Northallerton won 32-10 at home to Wath-on-Dearne in Yorkshire Three, scoring tries through Simon Kiddle, Ian Townsend and Brian Tucker.