Darlington Mowden Park 40 Fylde 14

HAT-TRICKS are a rare commodity among prop forwards, but Darren Fearn chalked one up in 20 minutes for Mowden on Saturday.

Little has been seen of the 20st Scarborough-born hulk since he arrived from Sale just over a year ago when Mowden were short of props.

Injuries have restricted his appearances, along with the excellent form of Gareth Nesbit. But with the skipper starting on the bench following his neck injury, Fearn took the chance to make an impact.

He takes some stopping from close range and battered his way over three times between the 20th and 40th minutes before making way for Nesbit shortly after the break.

Prior to his first try the game was scoreless and had the makings of a tight contest. But Fylde proved under-powered compared with the top sides in National One and in greasy conditions their handling didn't match their ambition in their attempts to run from anywhere.

Fylde are ninth, while Mowden moved up a place to sixth, but the match underlined the gulf below the top eight.

It was a disappointing day for RFU chairman Bill Beaumont, especially as his son Sam, the Fylde No 8, was injured before half-time.

Mowden also suffered an early casualty in Jake Woodhouse, but not for the first time reserve scrum half Matt Walsh went on at full back and looked the part.

Injuries have forced Mowden to pull out of a competition funded by the RFU to provide more meaningful second team rugby, although they intend to fulfil the fixtures when possible.

As well as Fearn, the vacancies allowed Talite Vaioleti to show he remains a powerful presence, while ex-Stourbridge flanker Ciaran Moore went into the second row for the second half and caught the eye. Young Joe Craggs enjoyed a profitable 80 minutes at open side, while blind side Rory Duff showed his skills when operating as a second fly half after the break.

Fylde had two chances to take the lead, losing the ball five metres short following a 60-metre counter-attack before their kicker made such a hash of a simple penalty even Beaumont had to laugh.

Mowden dominated the scrums and when they took one against the head No 8 Ollie Hodgson made good ground before Fearn forced his way over in the left corner.

His second was a similar effort after the initial drive was halted following a penalty to the right corner.

A tight game still seemed possible when Fylde centre Scott Rawlings scored by the posts and converted, but by the 63rd minute Mowden led 40-7.

They scored their best try just before half-time. The excellent Hodgson exchanged passes with Bruno Bravo up the right flank before the ball was moved left and Fearn burst on to a short pass to complete his treble. Warren Seals added the second of his five conversions for a 19-7 lead.

Mowden were so dominant in the first 25 minutes of the second half that they even stretched their lead while Bravo was in the bin.

Vaioleti, increasingly influential, forced his way over then another strong scrummage allowed Bravo to dart away on the short side before a switch pass sent winger Peter Homan through a gaping hole to the posts.

Centre Jamie Barnard, always comfortable in possession, wriggled out of a tackle to score from 15 metres before Fylde grabbed a consolation five minutes from time.