Darlington Mowden Park’s hopes of closing the gap on the top three at the other end of the division were ended at high-flying Bradford & Bingley.

In a gruelling encounter between second and fourth, it was the Yorkshiremen who came out on top 11-7, while there were three yellow cards issued, including one to Michael Forde.

It all looked favourable for Mowden when Matt Lister went over the line to hand the visitors the lead and Gavin Painter converted with 12 minutes on the clock.

But then Bradford stepped things up, even though Mowden can count themselves unlucky not to have come away with something.

After Gavin Stead, who missed four kicks during the afternoon, put one through the posts, Richard Scull scored a try to put the hosts one ahead.

With seconds remaining Stead added a late penalty to finish the scoring and end Mowden’s hopes of closing the gap on the three teams above them.

Darlington thumped Alnwick 62-0.

Joe Osleton, Andrew Pugh (2), Joe Hargreaves, Connor Elser, Bill Smith (2) and Andy Hodgkins (3) all scored tries, with Henry Carver kicking six conversions.

There was a frustrating defeat for Stockton at Ashington, who have now climbed level on points with their counterparts after emerging with a 29-27 win in Northumberland.

Northallerton’s first team game away to Baildon was postponed due to a frozen pitch, which could leave quite a big fixture pile up going into the latter part of the season.

North still managed two fixtures at home, with the second team again beating local rivals Thirsk 18-0.

North thirds kept their unbeaten home record intact, beating Wensleydale seconds 43-15.

Northallerton II never really got into top gear against a severelyweakened Thirsk team, so weakened in fact that North loaned them first team captain prop Paul Dixon.

● Mowden Park Sharks fly half Katy McLean has been named as the new captain of the England women’s team.

She makes the step up from vice-captain and has described her new captaincy as “a massive honour”.

The 26 year old, a fly half, said: “There are so many natural leaders in our squad that it makes it even harder to believe they have asked me.

“It’s a massive honour to be England captain, a dream I have had since I started playing.

McLean, who lives in Gateshead and is studying to become a teacher, succeeds Catherine Spencer who stepped down a fortnight ago.

McLean added: “I have been lucky to captain England a couple of times so I have the experience, but even so it is a massive difference from being vice-captain.

Catherine did an amazing job captaining her country, it was an honour to be her vice, and I am sure I will be seeking her advice throughout the season.”