TYNEDALE beat Harrogate 20-16 in a triumphant return to Corbridge after completing last season's fixtures at Kingston Park following the December floods.

Despite a huge amount of volunteer labour, the repair bill was estimated at £500,000, and as a similar thing happened ten years earlier the club are now struggling to get insurance.

The ground might be vulnerable to the Tyne, but down the years it has been a fortress against visiting teams and Tynedale did well to overcome a bigger pack.

After going 6-0 down, prop Ben Haigh, a prolific scorer last year, finished a driving maul and forced his way over again from ten metres in the second half. Fly half Ash Smith added the goal points.

Billingham found themselves up against a bigger pack at Hull in National Three North and lost 30-17. The home forwards earned two penalty tries, while backs Adam Radwan, Elliott Husband and Tom Briggs crossed for Billingham.

Despite a number of injuries, which included Chris Atkins damaging a knee in the warm-up, West Hartlepool are top of North One East after a 34-20 win at Malton and Norton.

Zac Southern and Lee Maddison were injured during the natch, but West built a 22-3 lead before the hosts' overseas men sparked a fightback.

Malton's two South Africans set up the first of three tries for Australian winger Blake Spencer, but West replied with a brace from teenage centre Liam Checksfield.

Their earlier tries came from winger Will Hilditch, No 8 Sam Miller and replacement back Paul Moss. Gavin Painter added a penalty and three conversions.

Durham City took the lead through a Paul Armstrong penalty at Percy Park and stayed in the hunt with a converted try by skipper Peter Dent. But they eventually lost 44-15.

Middlesbrough's hopes of getting out of Durham and Northumberland One at the second attempt suffered an early blow with a 12-7 home defeat by Horden and Peterlee.

Euan Tremlett improved Boro's line-out in a good display, but neither he nor brother Toby are expected to be regularly available, while star half back Sam Gaudie has joined Wharfedale.

Horden led through a try by centre Jack McCallum, but Boro were ahead at half-time after prop Myles Colvin touched down and young fly half Angus McColl converted.

Visiting full back David Heckles scored what proved the winner early in the second half, after which a stalemate ensued.

Stockton lost 25-24 to the last kick of a game at Gosforth in which the lead changed hands seven times. All 24 points came from winger Steve Bartliff with a hat-trick of tries and three penalties.

Late changes for Stockton culminated in coach Martin Howe appearing as an emergency centre after Steve Thornton's back went into spasm the warm-up. Fellow coach Mark Skirving also had to play for the last 20 minutes.

Gosforth went 10-0 up and regained the lead just before half-time after Bartliff kicked a penalty and added two unconverted tries.

Stockton twice went back in front, the final penalty putting them 24-22 ahead with eight minutes to go. But they were denied in the fifth minute of injury time.

Despite losing 31-26 at Gateshead, Barnard Castle again underlined their ability to compete at this level.