Billingham are setting their sights on survival after significantly boosting their chances of staying in National League Three North with a 20-3 Teesside derby victory over Middlesbrough.

There are now just six points separating Billingham from their regional rivals, who sit just outside the relegation zone, with 12 matches remaining.

The determination on the home side’s part was clear from the first whistle and they took the lead inside quarter of an hour when full-back Peter Evans stroked over a penalty.

Ten minutes later it was level, when Boro’s No 10 Martin Featherstone grabbed a penalty, but then Billingham took control.

Prop Danny Dixon went over the line to claim an 8-3 lead at half-time, then he added a second once Joe Evans, the brother of Peter, who added a conversion, had scored a try.

It is a victory that could prove priceless come the end of the season.

Billingham club secretary Keith Blenkinsopp said: “Middlesbrough were ten points ahead of us and if they had won they would have been out of reach.

“We have to look at finishing fourth bottom at the moment, even if we would like to be higher, because three teams go down and this has given us a chance.

“We have closed the gap on them. Unfortunately, Waterloo won too, but all we can do is look at ourselves. We are a lot closer now. It is a relegation battle we know all about and we should have the confidence to go forward now.

“It’s been one of those seasons where we should have won more games. We did well against top teams like Chester and Stockport, but we have narrowly lost out. It’s quite tight and we needed this.”

Darlington Mowden Park’s hopes of closing the gap on the top three at the other end of the division were ended at high-flying Bradford & Bingley.

In a gruelling encounter between second and fourth, it was the Yorkshiremen who came out on top 11-7, while there were three yellow cards issued, including one to Michael Forde.

It all looked favourable for Mowden when Matt Lister went over the line to hand the visitors the lead and Gavin Painter converted with 12 minutes on the clock.

But then Bradford stepped things up, even though Mowden can count themselves unlucky not to have come away with something.

After Gavin Stead, who missed four kicks during the afternoon, put one through the posts, Richard Scull scored a try to put the hosts one ahead.

With seconds remaining Stead added a late penalty to finish the scoring and end Mowden’s hopes of closing the gap on the three teams above them.

Blaydon suffered disappointment in their National League One home fixture with struggling Cinderford, losing 20-17.

It was a defeat made more frustrating by the fact that they had twice been in front, even though they had trailed to a Dan Trigg penalty during a 30-minute period where they were pegged back in their own half.

Paddy Dias did charge though under the posts after a neat move involving Andrew Baggett, who converted and added a penalty before the break, and Gavin Jones.

But after Tom Rock had gone over the line to put Blaydon on track for a much-needed win, Cinderford took control.

Winger Nevarro Codlin and Robert Bell put the visitors in sight of victory before David Knight nipped in to secure the surprise win in the closing stages.

In National Two North, Westoe kept promotion hopes alive with a fully deserved 20- 15 win at home to Kendal.

After trailing 12-3 at the interval, the hosts took full advantage of the slope at Wood Terrace to turn things around.

Fly-half Mark Bedworth converted a penalty try shortly after the break to start the revival then converted a further try from lock Iain Robinson.

Bedworth’s second penalty sealed the success before Kendal gained some consolation in the dying seconds when Mark Ireland scored his fifth penalty of the afternoon.

West Hartlepool’s trip to Northern in North One East was postponed, as was Durham City’s home date with Carlisle.

Bottom club Hartlepool Rovers’ match with promotion- chasing Cleckheaton did get the go-ahead and Rovers stunned everyone by winning 14-12.

Darlington thumped Alnwick 62-0.

Joe Osleton, Andrew Pugh (2), Joe Hargreaves, Connor Elser, Bill Smith (2) and Andy Hodgkins (3) all scored tries, with Henry Carver kicking six conversions.

There was a frustrating defeat for Stockton at Ashington, who have now climbed level on points with their counterparts after emerging with a 29-27 win in Northumberland.