DARLINGTON Mowden Park embark on a 750-mile round trip to Plymouth tomorrow buoyed by last Saturday's 22-9 home win against Old Albanians.

Mowden had to call last season's captain, Gareth Nesbit, out of retirement because of injuries to both first-choice props, Ignas Darkintis and James Penman.

The shortage of front five forwards has also seen Talite Vaioleti pressed into service in the second row in every game after barely featuring last season.

But he rivalled Santiago Socino for man of the match, the hooker getting the vote after scoring two of the three tries.

For the second time this season, flanker Joe Craggs was pushed forward into the second row as Mowden sacrificed bulk for pace and they made a lively start.

It proved crucial because they led 12-0 after eight minutes then had to defend stoutly for the next hour, during which Old Albanians had the edge up front, but lacked the skill to break them down.

The visitors still looked likely winners when their third penalty had the gap down to 12-9 with 20 minutes left, but Mowden responded swiftly with a penalty and the third try.

The first two came while Albanians had a man in the sin bin. Vaioleti was prominent in a strong counter-attack and, from a quickly-taken free kick, Mowden put flanker Brandon Staples over.

From the restart they mounted another high-speed attack, with fly half Caolan Ryan making the crucial break before Socino touched down.

Ryan converted, but the bright start faded and once back up to full strength, the Albanians pack began to get on top, although they were surprisingly insecure at the line-out.

They kicked several penalties to the corner, but only once went close to scoring, when they were held up on the line.

They had to resort to kicking for goal and kept chipping away at Mowden's lead, but after the third penalty they carelessly allowed the restart to go into touch, then lost the line-out.

Under pressure for the first time in the second half, they were penalised at a scrum and Ryan made it 15-9.

Mowden quickly went on the attack again, sweeping up the right for centre Ben Frankland to go close before the ball was moved left and Socino bounced off a tackle to go under the posts.

Ryan converted and, in another good attack at the death, his chip to the corner narrowly failed to bring the bonus point try.

The promotion race has opened up in Durham and Northumberland One, where one point covers the top five teams, including Barnard Castle after their 28-25 win away to Medicals.

Middlesbrough are only three points off the pace after a 36-23 home win against Stockton.

All six tries came from backs as Boro built a 36-9 lead, with winger Connor Foley scoring two in his first appearance of the season.

Centre Ross McNeill also scored in his second game since a two-year lay-off, while Sean Moloney, Adam Nolson and Michael Thornburn completed the tally. Matthew Todd added three conversions.

Stockton fought back with two well-worked tries from prop Tom Nelson and winger Joe Hargreaves, converted by full back Steve Bartliff, who added two penalties.

Darlington lie 10th in division two after a 28-21 defeat away to Winlaton Vulcans.

Northallerton's struggles in Yorkshire Three continued with a 78-31 defeat at Old Otliensians.

They were still missing a few vital players and, straight from the kick-off, Otliensians spun the ball wide to score, setting the tone for much of the game.

North were unable to match the home backs, but tried to keep the ball in their much stronger forwards, resulting in two first-half tries for No 8 Simon Manthorpe, both converted by Jed Bainbridge.

But the home team scored a further four first-half tries and after the break North dominated up front, but were over-run in the backs. Tries by Alex Bilby and Paul Dixon earned a bonus point, the reliable Bainbridge adding two more conversions and a penalty.

There was an impressive debut for 18-year-old Matthew Marsay, who never stopped tackling despite being one of the smaller players on the pitch.

Northallerton now have a week off, which will enable some of the injured players to recover for a tough encounter at home to Castleford next week.

Injuries meant the second team fixture at home to Stockonians had to be cancelled. The seconds hope to fulfil their fixture away to Redcar tomorrow.