DARLINGTON Mowden Park's ambitions of a top four finish in National One were ended by a 27-10 defeat at Coventry.

But they can still finish fifth by leapfrogging this week's visitors, Esher, and Plymouth Albion, who are to lose 30 points for going into administration.

Darren Fearn again helped to give Mowden the edge in the scrums, but his yellow card for pulling down a maul proved costly as Coventry were awarded a penalty try, which enabled them to draw level.

Mowden had made a good start with Warren Seals sending Peter Homan over in the seventh minute. The fly half converted and added a penalty after 32 minutes, but that proved to be the end of Mowden's scoring.

Coventry led 17-10 at the break and added a third try when they ran back a Mowden clearance.

Blaydon ensured survival with a 45-25 home win against Cinderford, despite a slow start in each half.

Worcester Acadmey fly half showed his class for Cinderford, whose fast start earned a 10-0 lead before Blaydon had touched the ball.

Once the home pack got on top dual-registered Newcastle Falcons lock Will Witty began to shine, finishing a catch-and-drive then spotting space down the blind side of a ruck to surge over.

Fly half Brett Connon ignored an overlap to go under the posts and converted again when a penalty try was awarded on half-time for a 24-10 lead.

Cinderford quickly cut that to 24-20 before Blaydon reasserted themselves and scored two excellent tries. Tom Rock cut through the middle to finish the first then, to his great credit, lock Chris Wearmouth got on the end of a move which twice featured scrum half Nathan Horsfall.

Finally replacement flanker Jack Davison scored his first try for the club when Cinderford were pushed off their own ball.

Tynedale dominated much of their game at Luctonians and led 12-3 through fine tries either side of half-time by Oli Walker. But they failed to take their other chances and two late tries brought a 17-12 defeat.

Billingham recorded a third successive win in Three North when they came back from 17-7 down at half-time to clinch a 26-23 victory at Huddersfield YMCA through a late try by Elliot Husband.

Peter Evans converted his own first half try and Matt Kirby scored straight after the break before Damian Hopley got the third.

Westoe look certain to be in the same division as Barnard Castle next season after a 30-5 home defeat by Morpeth left them needing to win their last two games to have any chance of survival in North One East.

Northern are also in danger after a 24-22 home defeat by Alnwick allowed the visitors to stay third, ahead of West Hartlepool, who won 24-10 at Percy Park.

Barnard Castle clinched promotion from D and N Two with a 50-7 home win against Redcar, but celebrations were muted as they want to make sure they go up as champions.

No 8 Rob Stanwix rampaged over for two of the eight tries, while Ali Johnson scored one and had a hand in several others. Young scrum half Rees Doyle scored his first senior try, the others coming from Adam Kicks, Dan Potts and Lucas Summers with Greg Upton adding five conversions.