DARLINGTON Mowden Park pulled out of Tuesday night’s Durham Cup final at Blaydon because they did not have a replacement prop.

With several Mowden players now committed to playing in seven-a-side competitions, the final will not be rearranged, which means it has been scrapped for a third successive year.

Mowden secretary Kevin Robinson said: “It was a traumatic day on Monday. The county gave us until 9pm to find someone and we did everything we could.We spoke to agents, but when people realised the strength of the opposition they weren’t keen.”

Robinson, who is the county team secretary, said: “Being involved with the county I’m keen to see the cup continue, but everything seems to conspire against it and the final always seems to get lost at the end of the season.

“We were in the final last season but Westoe cried off.

Then we tried for a month to get the semi-final played against them this year, but they withdrew because their priority was to try to avoid relegation. We can only apologise.It’s a shame the final isn’t going to happen, but it could have become a farce if we had a prop injured. You can go to uncontested scrums, but in that event the rules say you can’t put another player on.”

Mowden have been short of front row cover since Danny Dixon broke an ankle two months ago. Hooker and captain Junior Fagalilo has also been injured of late.

Dan Miller has played his last game for the club but was prepared to play in the final until he suffered an elbow injury on Saturday.

Mowden secured third place in National Two North by winning their final game 54-24 at home to Preston Grasshoppers in front over 1,000 fans at The Northern Echo Arena.

Mowden blew their visitors away in the first half and led 33-7 at the break.

Winger Chris McTurk finished third in the division’s try scoring chart when a first half hat-trick took his tally to 26.

Fly half Grant Connon also finished third among the leading points scorers as he converted seven of the eight tries, one of which he scored for a final tally of 260.

With prop Dan Miller playing his last game before returning to Darlington, the forwards worked hard to match bigger opponents in the tight and the back row of Charlie Maddison, Callum Mackenzie and Rory Duff bossed the breakdown.

McTurk opened the scoring after three minutes with a trademark chip and chase, which took him past two defenders. Ten minutes later he scored again as Mowden underlined their superiority.

Cameron Mitchell ran back a poor clearance to score the third, hooker Andrew Tonkin burst through to secure the bonus point, and just before half-time McTurk completed his treble with a mazy run.

Mowden were down to 14 men with full back Henry Robinson in the sin bin when the visitors scored their first try. Mackenzie, who has converted to the back row from the wing, showed his paces when he gathered the ball on the visitors’ 22 and raced away to score.

Robinson and Connon got the last two tries, stretching the lead to 54-14 before both sides made changes and Preston grabbed two late scores.