DARLINGTON Mowden Park tuned up for this week's visit of Blaydon with a capital performance, while their North-East rivals were unhappy to be left kicking their heels.

Mowden's 22-14 win at Esher was their fifth in succession, but Blaydon were denied their chance to edge away from the National One danger zone when bottom club Henley declined to play.

With the kick-off time adjusted to suit their train times, snow began to fall just as Henley arrived.

The rules state that if the weather changes within three hours of kick-off a decision will be left to the captains. Blaydon were happy to play, Henley were not.

After five successive defeats, the visitors will doubtless hope to regain their early season form before the match is played on February 27.

The consolation for Blaydon was that their Christmas lunch was the best-attended they have had and the second team match against Tynedale went ahead.

From lying second bottom after winning one of their first six games, Mowden are now ninth with every opportunity to continue their surge up the table as the only away game in the next six is the January 2 visit to Henley.

A 17-7 half-time lead at Esher had been narrowed to three points when supersub Simon Uzokwe again scored the clinching try, touching down his ninth of the season with seven minutes left.

After beefing up their pack since last season, Mowden are better prepared for this sort of physical battle and dominated a penalty-strewn first half.

After a Garry Law penalty there was a yellow card for each side before Mowden lock Tom Jubb, not for the first time this season, intercepted on halfway and raced under the posts.

Several scrum infringements resulted in Esher being awarded a penalty try before Mowden grabbed another stray pass. Jubb again made ground before sending fly half Warren Seals over.

Scrum pressure again led to Esher's second converted try with 11 minutes left, but Uzokwe had the last word.

Tynedale started both halves well in the National Two North match at Sandal, but had nothing to show for it and lost 17-0.

Billingham battled hard in the mud away to National Three North leaders Sheffield Tigers but had to settle for a losing bonus point in an 8-3 defeat.

West Hartlepool missed the chance to edge closer to second place in North One East when they lost 12-3 in wind and rain at Dinnington.

The South Yorkshire club went ahead through an early catch-and-drive, West replying through a Gavin Painter penalty before the last two minutes of the first half proved decisive.

When Sam Miller was sin-binned for lying on the ball ten metres from the line Dinnington opted for a scrum. One of their props popped up, but the referee decided West skipper Dan Boatman was to blame and also sent him to the bin.

Again the hosts opted for a scrum and when it went down a penalty try was awarded. West held out with 13 men at the start of the second half, but despite the attacking efforts of replacement Rob Thorn and full back Stu Waites they were unable to add to their tally.

Guisborough remain 11 points ahead of third-bottom Wheatley Hills, despite losing 22-7 away to the Doncaster club.

Most matches in Durham and Northumberland One fell foul of the weather, snow-free Horden enjoying the best of the conditions in a 34-5 win against Hartlepool Rovers.

Darlington v Ponteland was one of two games abandoned mid-match, but the referee awaited until 65 minutes had elapsed at Gosforth so that their 20-3 win against Stockon will stand.

Stockton had to make several late changes and, with snow falling throughout, they suffered further injuires to lock Charlie Doherty and hooker Dean Goldsborough.