DARLINGTON Mowden Park staged the only North Division One match to go ahead on Saturday and went to the top with a 37-0 win at home to Driffield.

They went above Blaydon on points difference and still have a game in hand, although it's the Tynesiders who now have a fixture headache following the postponement of their game at Sheffield.

As Blaydon and Sheffield are both still involved in the Intermediate Cup - and likely to win their sixth round ties this week - it could be late April before they can fit in their league meeting, clashing with the County Championship.

Mowden have the opportunity to go two points clear next Saturday, when they visit Chester while Blaydon go to Lymm for their cup tie instead of visiting Middlesbrough.

That game has been rearranged for February 17, when the Durham Cup second round ties are due to be staged with Blaydon at home to Horden, which will now be played in midweek under floodlights.

"We are extremely grateful to Horden," said Blaydon's fixture secretary Jim Huxley. "They said they could see we had a problem and felt they should be doing their best to help us. The county are also being very flexible."

The county cup semi-finals are due to be played on March 3, which is the only free Saturday in Blaydon's league schedule as they are visiting Mowden Park in a rearranged game on February 3.

If Mowden win that, the chances are they will be four points clear and their injury list will not be as big a worry.

John Stewart became the sixth back to join the casualties on Saturday when he suffered a nasty elbow injury shortly after going on as a replacement for Mark Bedworth at full back.

Another replacement, Danny Brown, quickly found himself in the sin-bin for stamping after going on with 20 minutes left, and the disruptions contributed to Mowden's failure to rediscover their superb first half form.

After the rollicking they received for a below-par display at Middlesbrough, Mowden were back to their best as they romped into a 30-0 half-time lead against the side who are third in the table.

Anthony Elwine had a very solid game at inside centre and No 8 Aaron Radaelli, back from New Zealand, restored the balance to the back row, although he made way for Shaun Cassidy with 20 minutes remaining.

Radaelli scored almost direct from the kick-off as Driffield dropped the ball and Darren McKinnon and Tasi Tuhana drove on.

Kevan Oliphant converted and added a penalty, then a clever grubber kick by Elwine set up a line-out, which was won by the outstanding Ian James for Tuhana to be driven over.

The next two tries came from rucks in midfield. First Mick Kent burst down the middle and gave a well-timed scoring pass to Steve Jones, then Jonny Golightly kicked ahead, Jones hacked on and Golightly dived on the ball to score.

On the stroke of half-time Oliphant added a second penalty to his two conversions.

With the pitch becoming heavy and the game already won, Mowden lost their sparkle and it was into the final minutes when Kent smashed down the middle and was stopped two metres short. Tony Irwin followed up to score and Oliphant again converted.

Two games went ahead in North Two East, Alnwick winning 19-0 at home to York, who are still without a point, while Redcar moved into fourth place by winning 5-3 at West Park Bramhope.

Redcar trailed 3-0 at half-time against the third-bottom side, but a try by Garry Schofield clinched victory.

Northallerton remain third bottom of Yorkshire One after losing 21-15 at West Leeds, despite two tries from winger Simon Coxon. Full back Ed Bulman also touched down