DARLINGTON Mowden Park and Blaydon got off to disappointing starts in National One ahead of this week's meeting at The Northern Echo Arena.

Mowden did pick up a bonus point from a 16-10 defeat at Hull Ionians, but Blaydon crashed 35-3 at home to promoted Old Albanians.

In a physical encounter, Mowden struggled to break down a strong Hull defence, managing only one try when replacement Santiago Socino crashed over just before half-time.

The conversion by full back Caolan Ryan secured a 7-3 interval lead, but early in the second half Mowden failed to secure line-out ball near their line and conceded a converted try.

They were also struggling in the scrums and conceded a penalty followed by a drop goal to go 16-7 down.

Hull had a player sin-binned on the restart and Ryan kicked the penalty, completing the scoring in the 79th minute.

With all their experienced forwards available, Blaydon dominated the scrums and had plenty of first half possession against their London visitors.

But it all went to waste through poor handling and they were punished by their former flanker Harry Bate, who scored two tries.

Coach Micky Ward said: β€œIn the first half we should have been two scores up and early in the second half we didn't take our chances.”

Blaydon kicked three penalties in quick succession to the corner, but their trademark rolling maul was repelled and when they let the ball out it was dropped, leading to Bate's first try. He went under the posts for a 10-0 interval lead.

Blaydon's only points came from a penalty by fly half Brett Connon, whose brother Max was at full back after moving from Mowden.

They were still in the game until Bate scored his second after 60 minutes, after which Blaydon's attempts to run out of defence simply presented more chances to the visitors.

They added two more converted tries, with three penalties completing their tally.

Tynedale battled back from 19-0 down after 30 minutes to lead 20-19 in their National Two North match away to Leicester Lions, only to concede a last-minute try and lose 24-20.

Tries by winger James Clark and hooker Louis Frankland cut the half-time deficit to seven, then fly half Ash Smith landed a penalty and replacement Matty Ouston scored the try which put Tynedale ahead. But they had to settle for the losing bonus point.

Billingham were the only team in Three North to pick up the four-try bonus when they won 29-16 at Ilkley.

Durham City battled back from 10-0 down at home to Bradford and Bingley in their first match in North One East. They took the lead, but had to settle for a 17-17 draw.

Tries by Craig Dominick and Durham School product Garry Izomor brought them level before a penalty try put them ahead, only for the visitors to convert their third try.

West Hartlepool won 37-13 at home to Huddersfield YMCA, with former Rovers flanker Lee Maddison scoring two of the six tries on his debut at this level.

West were quickly two tries to the good. Winger Will Hilditch grabbed the first following a blind side break by fly half Zac Southern, then a charged-down clearance allowed Maddison to touch down.

Southern converted and added a penalty before Andrew Rollins finished a catch-and-drive for a 20-8 interval lead.

More pressure was rewarded when Maddison appeared in midfield to score, then Eldon Myers forced his way over after a scrum was taken against the head.

He also made the break which led to the final try for replacement Paul Moss.

Barnard Castle got off to a great start in Durham and Northumberland One with an 18-12 win at Westoe.

The winning try came late in the game when Tom Steen fielded a ball deep in his own half and when Westoe halted, believing he had knocked on, he stormed away and found support from Chris McTurk.

The ex-Mowden winger's trademark chip and chase earned his second try, and fly half Sam Errington converted to add to his two penalties.

Middlesbrough also left it late to clinch a 13-10 win at Hartlepool Rovers through a well-struck penalty by Matthew Todd.

Captained by flanker Liam Wilson following Rob Bellerby's retirement, Boro were under pressure in the first half but took the lead through Todd's first penalty.

Rovers winger Adam Smith scored to give them a 5-3 interval lead but Richard Lonsdale went on at lock for Boro in the second half after almost a year's absence with a cracked hip and made a difference.

Centre Sean Maloney weaved through for a try before replacement Taz Pelser replied to level the scores before Todd had the last word.

Depleted Stockton lost 27-5 at home to Gateshead, whose speedy backs scored three tries in the first 20 minutes for a 19-0 lead.

Gateshead then had a player sent off when he retaliated against the wrong man, his swinging arm knocking Jonny Cheetham unconscious.

A Chris Farrell try made it 19-5 at half-time, but the visitors pulled away with a fourth try and a penalty.