IT isn't pretty, but catch-and-drive can be very effective for well-drilled sides and it brought four of Nuneaton's six tries in a 37-15 home win against Darlington Mowden Park.

Depleted Mowden had no answer to the line-out tactic, and with the other two tries stemming from forward pressure they were only in the game at the end of each half.

Having to make two late changes to an already injury-hit side was not ideal preparation for Mowden's visit to the National Three North leaders.

Fly half and acting captain Mark Bedworth damaged a thigh muscle and had to be replaced by former Middlesbrough player Andy Dean, while Owen Hopley came in at No 8 for Jon Dye, who was ill.

With Dave Sinclair unavailable for the rearranged match, Michael Cook played at prop and soldiered on with a damaged shoulder throughout the second half, while centre Matt Howland had to retire after 25 minutes when his suspect shoulder was dislocated again.

On the credit side Dean performed well, particularly in defence, while full back Iain Dixon scored the first and set up the second of Mowden's two late tries.

Ironically, the final try came from the best move of the match when Mowden were down to 13 men for the last ten minutes. Cook was sin-binned for over-vigorous rucking and when acting captain Richard Holbrough queried the decision he was also shown a yellow card.

Nuneaton's first try came after only three minutes and three more followed before half-time, with Mowden's only reply coming from a penalty by Dixon.

When Howland went off, Chris Strong switched to centre and Danny Brown went on to hook, but within five minutes Brown was harshly penalised, producing the inevitable result of another catch-and-drive try.

Mowden had held their own up front in the last 15 minutes of the first half, and with the wind behind them after the interval they had the chance to get back into the game.

But Nuneaton's forwards got back on top and within ten minutes their pressure had produced two more tries.

Mowden finally scored a good try when Dixon squeezed over in the corner, then following good forward play, Dixon beat four men and slipped the ball inside for Tongan lock Kelekolia Paino to touch down. Dixon added the conversion.

Blaydon eased into seventh place, climbing above their hosts Liverpool St Helens with a 22-17 win. Although Liverpool took the lead with a penalty and sneaked ahead again just after the interval, Blaydon were generally in control up front.

Forward power brought their three first half tries from scrum half Mick Dungait, lock Dave Guthrie and prop Dan Harper, who scored his eighth of the season.

The decisive try came shortly after Liverpool regained the lead, with Dutch centre Gerard Viguurs finishing off the move, and Blaydon remained in control.

Horden continued their excellent run in North Two East when they narrowed the gap on third-placed Westoe to one point with a 19-17 win away to the South Shields club.

They led 14-0 at half-time through tries by full back Paul Bruce and scrum half Andrew Raine, converted by Andy Turner.

Playing downhill after the interval, Westoe replied with a try by lock Paul Bird, plus a conversion and penalty by Colin Gillespie.

But Horden winger Chris Purvis burst over to make it 19-10 and the game was almost over when replacement hooker Ian Parnaby touched down for Westoe.

The rearranged match at Alnwick was something of an inconvenience for depleted Middlesbrough and they lost 23-18.

Boro twice came from behind to lead 10-8 at half-time, then kicked a penalty, only for Alnwick to produce their best spell of the match, scoring two tries to go 20-13 ahead.

Boro came back with a series of rolling mauls and scrum half Peter Wright put Andy Micklewright over in the corner to reduce the gap to two points with 24 minutes left.

But despite late Boro pressure, the only remaining score came from a penalty by home fly half Alan Moses.

The lack of a kicker was again costly for Boro as none of their three tries was converted.