MOWDEN Park could bring in reinforcements from Newcastle this week following an unsatisfactory performance on Saturday.

Despite edging closer to safety in National Three North with a second successive win, the management were irritated by the way they yet again let inferior opponents back into the game.

Mowden led 14-0 after seven minutes, but it was 17-17 at half-time against a side who have won only one match all season.

Centre Anthony Elwine, who began the season with Spalding, finally made his Mowden return but looked rusty and did nothing to solve the problems in midfield.

There was also a surprise comeback for scrum half Jon Wrigley, drafted in as a late replacement for Richard Holborough, who had damaged a hand and will be out for three weeks.

There were fears that Wrigley might not play again, but he looked lively enough and it was outside him where the problems lay.

This was disappointing after a flowing move produced a try after 30 seconds, but Mowden continued their habit of switching off in the middle of a match.

Scunthorpe were a plucky young side, but they were always going backwards in the scrums and Mowden's forward power told in the end.

Lock Kelekolia Paino was again in rampaging form and hooker Chris Strong wasn't far behind. Both charged over for a try, while centre Matt Howland scored two and winger James Tyrrell got the first.

Mark Bedworth kicked and tackled strongly, landing three penalties and four conversions, but it remains a pity that his exciting development as a full back has been curtailed by the need to play him at fly half.

It is also a pity that Mowden can't help with the rehabilitation of Newcastle's David Walder, who would be ideal for their purposes but has only just started jogging again after his broken leg.

Still, their link with the Falcons might produce something this week and one name which has been mentioned is that of Rob Devonshire.

The former England Under 21 flanker has made three starts at open side in the Premiership this season and come off the bench a few times.

But following the arrival of two back row men among the Falcons' new signings, Devonshire is going to be out in the cold.

Although Mowden are not short of back row men, he could slot in at open side with Aaron Redaelli switching to No 8 as Jon Dye was injured on Saturday.

A third successive win at home to Liverpool St Helens next Saturday would take Mowden well clear of the dreaded bottom four.

Although Scunthorpe had a very useful fly half, who made a good outside break for their only try, he never learnt from his initial mistake of kicking off straight to Paino.

With lively assistance from full back Iain Dixon, the Tongan's 20-metre surge led to the opening try and he powered forward time and again at restarts.

A procession looked on the cards when Howland took a short pass from Bedworth to burst through untouched and score by the posts after seven minutes.

But six minutes later Scunthorpe scored and had the full back not failed with a simple conversion they would have led at half-time.

He didn't miss again, however, landing a drop goal and four penalties to keep his side in the game even after Mowden came out firing again for the second half.

It was 20-20 after 55 minutes, but then Mowden's forward pressure finally told as Vaha Faleovalu began a bout of good inter-passing and featured again before Paino surged over from 15 metres.

Tyrrell was just short after another Paino break, then Bedworth landed his third penalty, prompting Scunthorpe to start running from their own 22.

They often did it quite well, only to lose the ball around halfway, and this led to Mowden's fourth try as they countered swiftly and Howland ran round the outside to score in the right corner.

A similar attack up the right in injury time ended with Strong ignoring an overlap and cutting inside to score by the posts.

Result: Darlington Mowden Park 42 Scunthorpe 20.