Darlington Mowden Park 31, Cleckheaton 30.

IF this was a classic case of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, it was also a triumph for enterprising rugby.

With two minutes of normal time left Cleckheaton's pack were rumbling forward, as they had done for most of the match, and with a 30-17 lead a place in the second round of the EDF Energy Cup looked assured.

But the visitors lost the ball, Mowden spun it out and winger Iain Dixon finished a brilliant 65-metre move in the left corner.

With the game entering injury time, Cleckheaton kicked the restart straight into touch, allowing Mowden to attack again, which they did with a verve their visitors had never threatened to match.

Centre Gareth Kerr made ground and the ball was moved left then right for No 8 Tim Wilks to send Kerr over ten metres right of the posts.

That left full back Anthony Mellalieu to clinch an astonishing win with the last kick of a game in which he converted all four of Mowden's tries, while Cleckheaton converted one out of five. Both teams added a penalty.

It was one of those rare games which shatter the myth that matches are always won up front. With five regulars missing, the Mowden forwards were outgunned, but they battled gamely and won enough ball for Kerr and fly half Lewis Farrar to show their class.

There was also an impressive debut by 19-year-old former Seaton Carew scrum half Martin Lithgo, but it looked like curtains for Mowden when, with three backs also missing, they had to send on fitness coach Mick Kent for skipper Jamie Connolly at half-time.

Kent has not learnt how to pass the ball during his three years at Consett, but he has obviously retained his strength and it was he who secured the turnover which led to the 78th minute try.

Kent is not quite such a veteran as 40-year-old former British Lion John Bentley, whose experience on the right wing for Cleckheaton no longer compensates for his loss of pace.

Several times he received the ball in the sort of space from which he would once have created havoc, but he was never a threat.

In fact, the visitors' only threat came from pick-and-drive and rolling mauls. Powerful No 8 Richard Sawyer scored three of their tries and the other two also came from forwards.

All their tries stemmed from penalties kicked to touch, the first coming shortly after Mowden put themselves under immediate pressure by dropping the kick-off.

Mellalieu missed a penalty following a break by Farrar and ten minutes of Mowden pressure brought no reward.

Cleckheaton's second try made it 10-0, but their scrum half made a hash of collecting the restart and his hurried clearance allowed Dixon to launch a move which saw Connolly being stopped just short of the posts. New lock Chris Wearmouth followed up to score.

In added time a stamp on the aggrieved Bentley resulted in the inevitable penalty to touch and Cleckheaton drove over again for a 15-7 interval lead.

Within five minutes Farrar's class helped Mowden to edge ahead.

First he and Kerr took play into the 22, where the ball was moved right before an inside pass sent impressive hooker Shaun Buckely bullocking over.

Then Farrar collected his own delicate chip and when his pass was deliberately knocked on Mellalieu kicked the penalty.

Mowden then paid dearly for conceding a series of penalties and finally had flanker Ben Lonsdale sin-binned just before Cleckheaton's fifth try.

Bentley took over the kicking and converted that one before fly half Chris Quinn landed a penalty from the 22 after Mowden were penalised at a scrum.

There were ten minutes left and for the next eight there was little hint that Mowden could retrieve the situation. Then Kent secured the turnover, Kerr swiftly moved the ball left and Farrar took a pass from Lonsdale to make 25 metres before sending Dixon over from 30 metres.

Mellalieu's conversion gave Mowden hope, which turned to ecstasy two minutes later. Stunned Cleckheaton will be desperate for revenge in a home National Three North match this week.