After the disappointment of losing out to bottom club Altrincham Kersal in North One, Middlesbrough turned in a positive display but ended up narrowly defeated 13-12 at home to Westoe.
Boro were frustrated by the late unavailability of centre Lee Rust and hooker Ben Horton with flu, and the game was lost in up front against their powerful counterparts.
Nevertheless, despite never leading in the game, Middlesbrough were unlucky not to have claimed something after scoring their second try of the day, through Paul Norris, four minutes before the end. Simon Moore converted.
Westoe had gained the early initiative to lead 7-0, but a superb try from Andrew Micklewright brought the Teessiders back into it - only for Westoe to hit them again to lead 13-5. And, after Norris and Moore combined to take Middlesbrough to within a point, time ran out and a second successive reversal was recorded.
Blaydon's trip to Manchester in National League Two was called off due to bad weather.
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