WITH a second successive promotion in their sights, Barnard Castle showed on Saturday they have the depth to ensure the bubble doesn't burst.

The Durham and Northumberland One leaders were without six regulars but still scorched into a 29-0 lead within 30 minutes.

In the absence of powerful No 8 Rob Stanwix they drafted in Liam Riley, one of the best players to have come through Mowden Park's junior ranks in recent years.

His National One career was cut short by two bad injuries and he has piled on some beef. But he made an immediate impact, even if he didn't last the full 80 minutes.

His former Mowden colleague, Sam Errington, was also influential after switching from his usual position to scrum half with Greg Upton at No 10.

Skipper Adam Kicks compensated for the absence of broken hand victim Chris McTurk by scoring three of the seven tries.

He began by eluding three tackles up the right after three minutes, then Riley showed his off-loading skills to send 17-year-old George Welsby away and the winger's inside pass set up a try for lock Bill Neville.

Upton and Errington scored from close range to bag the bonus point after 22 minutes and when Errington chipped through for Kicks to touch down a rout was on the cards.

The tackles eased, however, and Novos took advantage in spirited style, scoring two tries before half-time, one of them from impressive centre Sam Busby.

When they drove a line-out on the resumption and moved the ball out nicely for a try on the right they had the gap down to 29-17.

Barney coach Junior Fagalilo went on to shore things up and any danger of the lead being squandered ended when Kicks finished a good move.

He also made the break from his own half to set up the final try for Lucas Summers, Errington adding his fifth conversion before Novos scored their bonus point try at the death.