MIDDLESBROUGH will need to win at home to Durham City this week to strengthen their chances of home advantage in a promotion play-off against Malton and Norton.

The failure to grab a bonus point in a 24-14 win at Horden left them nine points adrift of City, who won 69-14 at home to Stockton and need one point from two games to clinch the Durham and Northumberland One title.

By coincidence, the top two in Yorkshire One are separated by the same margin and also meet this week, when a defeat for Malton at Bradford and Bingley would greatly help Boro.

They were second best in the scrum at Horden and had to deal with untidy ball. The hosts kicked a second-minute penalty and followed up with another from halfway.

Boro’s first real period of pressure earned a penalty after 20 minutes and Conner Foley took a quick tap and found a gap to score.

Charlie Bircham added the first of his three conversions and added a penalty four minutes before half-time.

Despite playing downwind, Boro fell behind again when a powerful Horden scrum saw the ball moved wide for a try.

Boro then had their best period and in the 55th minute Joe Gaudie spun out of a tackle to go clear and score under the posts.

The best try followed from a line-out with centre Mike Thornburn finding Rhys Kilbride, coming off the right wing, who put Charlie Bircham clear to score in the left corner.

Boro were under pressure for the rest of the match, but the defence held firm.

Chris Metcalfe led the way for Durham City with three of their 11 tries. There was a brace for Peter Dent, others coming from Bradley Pears, Craig Dominic, Arnie Stevenson, Tom Baty and Jeff Roberts, plus a penalty try. Phil Stewart added seven conversions.

Stockton never gave up and scored through flanker Anthony Parkinson and winger Simon Crozier, Jeremy Good converting.