Bishop Auckland's First XV put up a brave fight in the Durham Challenge Trophy Semi-Final but they were never able to contain the heavier, well organised pack.

Seaton Carew opened the scoring with the first of many tries conceded by Bishop.

Sayer made the initial brook and Carroll, Rispin and Oxley wore on hand to move the ball across field to Blanch who touched down in the corner. Seaton Carew responded with a vigorous attack down the wing and it took a crunching tackle from Campbell to prevent a try in the corner but almost immediately a defensive mix-up lot Seaton over for a try. Carnpbell levelled the scores with a penalty but when Bishop's forwards were caught offside, Scaton kicked for a lincout in the corner and their forwards simply drove over Bishop's fine. When Bishop conceded another penalty, the home side repeated the move with a lineout in the corner and a forwards drive over Bishop's line for an 18-8 load at half-time.

An early penalty stretched the home lead but Bishop responded with some aggressive running rugby that had the home defence in tatters before Blanch rounded off a penalty move with a try in the comer. Dent, Carroll and Oxley ran at the home defence but too often lack of support saw Bishop lose possession. Seaton Carew kicked downfield and left it to their forwards to drive home their advantage. They did so with clinical precision as they ran in three tries in the final 15 minutes as a rapidly tiring Bishop side put up a spirited but unavailing defence.