IT was a bad day for the North-East's three National One teams, with only Blaydon picking up a point in a 25-20 home defeat by Hartpury College.

They will now be desperate to avenge September's home defeat by Tynedale when they visit Corbridge this week to face a team in free-fall.

Despite leading 3-0 at half-time, Tynedale lost 32-3 at Loughborough and another defeat on Saturday could see them slip below Darlington Mowden Park into the danger zone.

Mowden found themselves back in the third relegation spot after losing 29-21 at Old Albanians, the third successive away game in which they have narrowly failed to pick up a losing bonus point.

They could climb three places this week, however, if they pick up full points at home to Wharfedale, who are four ahead of them.

Both Blaydon and Mowden fell foul of a powerful centre. On a firm Crow Trees surface, which had been frost-bound in the morning, Gloucester's Henry Trinder proved too hot for Blaydon's depleted back division.

Trinder, who played for England against the Barbarians three years ago and was in the Six Nations squad prior to last season, was making his comeback after injury for Hartpury.

Despite being outgunned up front, the students scored three tries from their own 22 in the first half to build a 19-10 interval lead.

Blaydon scored a catch-and-drive try through Gavin Jones and full back Phil Stewart made a break to send skipper Keith Laughlin over.

They had the gap down to two points when prop Robbie Kalbraier was driven over, but Hartpury landed two penalties before Andrew Baggett replied with the one which earned a bonus point.

Player-coach Micky Ward might have to dust off his boots for this week's derby as Andrew Foster and his replacement, Trevor Davison, both suffered knocks on Saturday.

The centre who sunk Mowden was the powerful Johannes Lombaard, who scored two tries in quick succession shortly after the interval, when the scores were level at 7-7.

The first was from an interception which took him under the posts and four minutes later he used his strength to crash over again.

A penalty and another converted try when the hooker was driven over took Albanians 22 points clear after 69 minutes, but as in their previous away games Mowden were on top in the closing stages.

Winger Jamie Barnard showed good pace to score his second try and lock Rob Conquest scored with a minute of normal time left. Replacement fly half Grant Connon converted the two late tries.

The youngest of the three Connon brothers, Brett, had to play at fly half for Tynedale in the absence of Gavin Beasley and he put them ahead at Loughborough with a penalty after 11 minutes.

The Students made several changes at half-time and became increasingly dominant, scoring three of their five tries in the last ten minutes.

It was Tynedale's fifth successive defeat and they will be hoping to have skipper Andy Buist back this week. They included 19-year-old flanker Brian Tuilagi, who is in the Newcastle Falcons Academy.

Billingham remain in mid-table in National Three North after a 30-8 home win against Burnage, Peter Evans again leading the scoring with a try, two penalties and two conversions. Dan Brown, Craig Shepherd and Dan Finney also touched down.

Second bottom Westoe were denied the win they needed at home to fellow strugglers Morley, who kicked a late penalty to grab a 20-20 draw.

A strong defensive effort and three penalties by Zac Southern gave West Hartlepool a 9-3 home win against Dinnington in North One East.

The change in form since Stockton won at Durham City in early season was underlined as they lost the return fixture 54-12. Player-coach Mark Bedworth, the former Mowden and Westoe fly half, pulled the strings for City. Anthony Parkinson and Steve Tampin scored for Stockton.

City are third in Durham and Northumberland One, but are seven points adrift of Guisborough, who continued their impressive run with a 55-10 win at Medicals. The matches at Consett and Ryton were postponed because of frozen pitches, while the death of a player on Thursday persuaded Sunderland to call off their home match against Gateshead.

Middlesbrough brought Peter Wright and Richie Horton out of retirement for the trip to Yorkshire One leaders Doncaster Phoenix and lost only

27-25 to a side with a 100 per cent record.

Boro got off to an ideal start when, after hard work by the forwards, the ball was passed out to Conner Foley, who eluded his opposite wing to score in the corner.

After a Doncaster penalty, Boro's more expansive rugby was again rewarded when Matty Todd came into the line and sent Jack Bircham over.

The third try also stemmed from a line-out when Wright fed Simon O’Farrell, who made a little show and go to cut through ad score. The conversion made it 17-3 and after the home forwards drove over Bircham kicked a penalty for a 20-8 interval lead.

The Doncaster pack scored again but when setting up fir a repeat Boro stole the ball and swung it out for Foley to outpace the defence before putting in a kick. After good work by Rob Bellerby and Matthew Helm the bonus point try was finished off by Todd.

The home forwards continued to use catch-and-drive to good effect and added two more tries, the decisive one coming in the 79th minute.