Morley is real test for Park

They entertain National Three North leaders Morley, and, after struggling against teams above them until they won at Middlesbrough two weeks ago, this is another opportunity to climb into the promotion frame.

The county cup, which was abandoned last season, should also generate a little more interest after being expanded back to 12 teams. Mowden will be at home again in the quarter-finals, against Gateshead on February 6.

Mowden have certainly put together a potent set of backs, and just as at Middlesbrough, their ability to score tries from long range quickly put paid to Darlington’s spirited start. It was a fourth successive defeat for the visitors, who had former captain David Glendenning making his comeback at inside centre after a two-year absence.

They need to stop the rot tomorrow at home to Old Crossleyans, who are a couple of places above them in North One East. If Dave Richardson is fit to return after concussion, Glendenning could be switched to his best position of full-back as young Mark Baldwin had to retire injured at half-time last week.

The damage was already done as, with the wind behind them, Darlington had enjoyed a territorial advantage for the first 20 minutes yet found themselves 21-0 down at half-time.

They spent the first quarter largely between the halfway line and Mowden’s 22 without threatening to score, and then handed Mowden three of their four tries by giving the ball away.

With combative hooker Rob Goddard to the fore and new No 8 Andy Hodgkins looking strong and athletic, the visiting forwards were keen to take the game to their hosts. But when flanker Colin Rogers was sinbinned for dangerous play after 20 minutes, the tide turned and Mowden scored two converted tries in his absence.

Hooker Howie Murray made a half break on halfway and fed centre Ian Hodgson, whose well-timed pass allowed the tall and pacy right winger Robin Eatough to outpace the defence on a 40-metre run to the posts.

One of several scraps preceded the next try four minutes later, when Darlington gambled on keeping the ball in play close to touch in their own 22.

They obviously sensed the chance of a break-out, but succeeded only in losing the ball and Mowden whisked it left for centre Andy Pugh to dart over against his former team-mates.

Richie Young added an excellent conversion.

Darlington tried to come back, but their battering round the fringes made little progress and they could never retain possession for long enough to get near the line.

Mowden won plenty of turnover ball without Darlington handing it to them on a plate, as they did again for the third try.

Glendenning suffered a misunderstanding at inside centre with fly half Nick Baldwin, allowing Mowden to grab the ball and whip it left to Matty Lister. Repeating a similar effort at Middlesbrough, from his own 22, the winger scorched away, rounded the full back, and went under the posts.

Compared with the peak of a few years ago, when these sides were National Three North rivals, the second half of this match was a disappointment.

Young kicked a penalty after eight minutes, and with the game in the bag, Mowden were drawn into a dogfight.

They made a few changes, among those sent on being lock Luke Monument, who is rarely available these days.

Caught in a flare-up, he was singled out for a yellow card, giving Darlington a new lease of life which culminated with prop Bill Smith rumbling over following a penalty to the corner.

But when they tried to run the ball back on the restart they lost it on the 22 and Mowden needed no second invitation to capitalise. The ball was moved right, where athletic lock Dan Squire scooted over. The jinky Ryan Painter impressed at scrum half, and with Andrew Seddon expected to be fit to return tomorrow, Mowden will face a tough choice between those two and Martin Lithgo.

Northallerton’s friendly against Bishop Auckland was cancelled at the last minute, allowing the first team players to rest ahead of tomorrow’s league game at home to Aireborough.

The second team travelled to Whitby and made it eight wins out of nine with a 30-16 victory in the first round of the North Yorkshire Trophy.

On a dark and very blustery day, North struggled for the first 30 minutes and failed to heed the referee’s warnings for being offside and illegally using hands in the ruck. They trailed 11-0 until winger Tom Potter scored an excellent try just before half time.

Northallerton started the second half more like the team of recent games. Fly half Mullholland used the wind to pin the home team in their own 22 and from a line-out Jonno Hall stole the ball and sent fellow lock Richard Dongsdale over for a try.

With North buoyant a similar move resulted in Tom Harper scoring, then Kiwi Hayden McPhail produced a dazzling run for the third try on his last appearance. Whitby punished some North indiscipline with a try, but returning back Olly Watts then made an immediate impact with some slick handling, pace and awareness to release MacQuaker for the final try.

Northallerton third team welcomed a few old boys out of retirement to bolster a very young team and grind out a 12- 7 victory against Acklam Talbots.

Nathan Cannell, Steve Tuer and Steve Metcalf were among the veterans who helped out.