AFTER several years of being in the promotion frame, both Darlington rugby clubs entered 2015 with their sights on avoiding relegation.

Mowden Park faced the greater threat but eased their worries in National One with a 17-3 win at Cinderford, which lifted them two places to sixth from the bottom.

Darlington are in no great danger as they are well clear of the bottom three in Durham and Northumberland One, but the alarm bells might start to tinkle if they lose at basement club Sunderland tomorrow.

Last Saturday's 35-12 home defeat by Stockton was indicative that all is not well at Blackwell Meadows, where the financial situation has prompted a decision to dispense with paid staff.

Chairman Mike Wilkinson said: “All aspects of the club are now run by volunteers and there's a good feel around the place. We are going back to our roots as a community-based amateur sports club.

Player-coach Gary Beck returned to action after a month's suspension and Wilkinson said: “He is working with us to ensure that overheads are kept down on the playing side.

“We are taking the opportunity to become leaner and ensure that, with our partners,we provide sporting facilities here for many years to come.”

It remains to be seen how the club will finance changes to the clubhouse and the car park extension, as proposed under the ground-sharing plans with Darlington FC.

Beck was unable to inspire his team and after a promising start to the season it was obvious that their decline is continuing. Stockton didn't have to play particularly well to win a scrappy game, which lacked skill and passion.

Stockton's experienced fly half Jeremy Good gave them a clear edge in the goal-kicking department and Darlington would have led at half-time had a simple penalty and conversion not been fluffed.

Good landed two penalties and converted a try from wide on the right for a 13-5 lead. The try resulted from flanker Joe Green breaking unhindered from a ruck in midfield to make 30 metres before sending Horner over.

Darlington cut the gap to 13-12 on the stroke of half-time when prop Dan Miller barged over, the other try having stemmed from a good break by full back Jack Harrild, finished by winger Lewis Metcalfe.

But Stockton dominated the second half, starting when No 8 Jack Aldus scored the first of his two tries from a scrum.

The pace of Dan Phinn was then utilised as he made good ground before sending replacement flanker Martin Howe over. Phinn scored the final try with a blistering diagonal run from the right wing to go under the posts.

Mowden, who are at home to Richmond tomorrow, defied muddy conditions and a slippery ball to win in Gloucestershire and coach Danny Brown

said: “It was a hugely important win.

“The conditions were not conducive to our style of play but the lads grafted very hard and our defence won us the game. It's the first time for a while we have stopped the opposition scoring any tries.”

Rugby League convert Ben Gledhill, the first summer signing, made his long-awaited debut after an ankle injury and proved a welcome addition to the second row. The other star player, as so often this season, was full back Henry Robinson.

The win was marred by winger Jamie Barnard, who is also the conditioning coach, breaking an ankle after five minutes but Tom Kill, back after injury, proved a capable deputy.

In what was largely a forward battle Mowden always had the edge, with their driving mauls proving very effective and leading to the first try for scrum half Adam Nixon after 17 minutes.

Robinson darted over to finish a good move just before half-time, with Grant Connon adding the conversions for a 14-3 interval lead. He also kicked a penalty for the only second half points.

Middlesbrough had cause to rue a missed conversion from under the posts in a 17-17 draw at home to Hullensians in Yorkshire One.

Matthew Todd had trouble getting the ball to sit on the tee and with time running out he opted for a drop kick and missed.

Boro still built a 17-5 lead but the visitors came back with two tries and converted the second with five minutes left.

In the absence of skipper Rob Bellerby, Boro welcomed back Lee Richardson at centre for his first game since rejoining the club and he finished a fine move which began in the home 22 with a Richard Lonsdale turnover. The other tries were scored by Jack Bircham and Simon O'Farrell.

Northallerton struggled to win 15-10 at home to lowly Aireborough and will hope to improve away to Yorkshire Three leaders Old Grovians tomorrow.

After a sluggish opening 20 minutes, North went ahead when hooker Paul Dennison picked up a dropped pass ten metres out and forced his way over.

They then came under pressure and conceded a penalty to lead 5-3 at half-time before sending on Doug Mulholland and Nic Bainbridge.

Midway through the second half tries were scored by Patrick Hebblethwaite and man of the match Ben Merritt, but the visitors battled and scored a converted try five minutes from time.