TYNEDALE shook off the shock resignation of player-coach Andy Buist to enjoy their outing at Newcastle Falcons' Kingston Park ground.

A 25-10 win against Harrogate eased relegation worries in National Two North, but Buist's departure is another setback following the floods at Corbridge.

The former Falcons lock, who was appointed in the summer, quit for personal reasons, but the team responded by fighting back from a 10-3 deficit.

Harrogate took a second-minute lead through winger Harry Bernard and flanker Guy Coser, a Barnard Castle School product, scored their second try.

But they picked up two yellow cards towards the end of the first half and a red midway through the second.

Two penalties by Ash Smith and a try by prop Ben Haigh nosed Tynedale in front and second half tries came from winger Ollie Walker and skipper Matty Outson.

Health and safety prevented the match being staged at Corbridge, but Tynedale will hope to have everything in order for their next home game against Sedgley Park on January 9.

Billingham enjoyed the expected comfortable win at home to National Three North's bottom club, Burnage, racing to a 31-0 interval lead on the way to a 48-8 triumph.

Eldon Myers, the youngest of the three brothers, scored a brace for West Hartlepool in an 18-8 win at Westoe in North One East, but it was more of a family affair for the Painters.

Prop John Painter, who played in the Premiership in the late 1990s, went on for the last 25 minutes to join sons Gavin and Ryan.

West dominated the first half but trailed 3-0 until Gavin Painter kicked a penalty just before the interval. He added a second when the score was 8-8 and had a big hand in both tries.

Myers, who is in the Royal Navy, went on as a replacement winger and accepted a lofted pass for the first and took advantage of a kind bounce for his second.

There was no change at the top of Durham and Northumberland One as Durham City and Middlesbrough both picked up four-try bonus points.

City won 57-7 at home to Hartlepool Rovers, who defended quite well but were powerless to stem the flow of nine tries.

Phil Stewart and Arnie Stevenson scored two each, the best came from Bradley Pears and the rest were touched down down by Craig Dominic, Jeff Roberts and Tom Hodgson.

Paul Armstrong added six conversions and the consolation for Rovers, who trailed 19-0 at half-time, was a penalty try.

Boro won 34-7 at Medicals, winger Rhys Kilbride setting them on the way with the try of the match after ten minutes when he beat two defenders on the outside.

He barged his way over for a second before lock Euan Tremlett was bundled over for the first of his brace as Boro built a 22-7 interval lead.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were a stalemate until Tremlett and prop Isa Warsama were driven over in quick succession. Matthew Todd landed three conversions and a penalty.

In the Teesside derby Acklam completed the double over Stockton on their first visit to Grangefield, winning 36-25 as their slicker backs scored five tries.

The first two came from Andy Dunn, the second following good work by man of the match Paddy O'Brien.

A Stockton try just before half-time had the gap down to 19-13, but a penalty by Danny Ashton and try by John Hall took Acklam well clear. Stockton came back with two more tries before Marcus Sudron broke through to score the clincher.

As clubs at this level go into a two-week break, Darlington can do no more than contemplate rebuilding in division two after recording a 13th straight defeat in a 70-7 hammering at Ryton.

Barnard Castle remain on course to leapfrog them, going clear at the top with a hard-earned 17-15 win at Sunderland, while Hartlepool lost 8-0 at Bishop Auckland.