DARLINGTON Mowden Park continued to make a mockery of their earlier struggles by spoiling the Halifax party with a tremendous display.

After thrashing second-placed Macclesfield to ensure safety in their last match, Mowden ended the unbeaten record of the National Three North champions on the day they received the trophy.

Mowden again unveiled the class which had been seen only in brief flashes for most of the season and even survived having flanker Jason Smithson dismissed for his second yellow card offence with 30 minutes left.

The Newcastle Academy product was first sin-binned on the half hour after Halifax had come back from 10-0 down to draw level. They went 15-10 ahead but Mowden nosed 17-15 in front at half-time and were never behind again.

Smithson's first yellow card was for going into a maul from the side and his second for a high tackle when Mowden were 24-15 ahead. They managed another converted try before Halifax got the gap down to 31-29.

But with two minutes left centre Tom Lauriston scored Mowden's fifth try and Michael Breen converted from the touchline. An injury time try came too late to save Halifax.

Mowden's other four tries were converted by Mark Bedworth, who also opened the scoring with a penalty after ten minutes of pressure. But he suffered a wrist injury and switched to full back with Iain Dixon going to outside centre.

Tom Lauriston moved inside and both he and winger Peter Phelan excelled in a superb team effort, in which James Knox comfortably survived his baptism of fire at loose head.

Mowden's first try came when scrum half Shaun Richardson robbed his opposite number at a five-metre scrum and they were looking likely to stretch the 10-0 lead until a loose pass allowed Halifax to score an interception try.

A penalty levelled the scores and Halifax went ahead after 38 minutes when they kicked a penalty to the corner then drove over off the back of a scrum.

But Mowden hit straight back with good forward play and Dixon beat two men before off-loading for Phelan to finish brilliantly.

Five minutes after the break Lauriston made the running for Bedworth to go under the posts, and after Smithson's exit Mowden won good line-out ball and fly half Martin Shaw showed his class by splitting the defence to score.

Halifax were looking favourites with ten minutes left after two converted tries, but Breen's conversion of Lauriston's try put the game beyond them.

Blaydon will be asking whether it is necessary to play Halifax in their one remaining game on May 7 after clinching their own safety with a 27-12 home win against New Brighton. It meant Rugby Lions were relegated, despite winning their last two games, as they finished two points behind Cleckheaton, who thrashed Tynedale 41-6.

There were massive celebrations when Blaydon, who had Nick Gandy at scrum half, scored their fourth try as the bonus point meant they were safe, even had they lost.

Both they and Halifax will have players in demand for county duty on May 7 and will have discussions before deciding their priorities.

Hooker Matt Hall had an excellent game for Blaydon, scoring two tries before he appeared to be kicked in the head and had to leave the field, Robbie Clarke going on for the last 15 minutes after three months on an oil rig.

The score was 27-0 by that stage with three tries coming from massive forward drives - Dave Marwick got the other one - while centre Pete Kilburn broke from halfway to score. Dan Clappison added a penalty and two conversions while also hitting a post twice.

Middlesbrough ended their season with a 34-15 defeat at Hull, who were pipped for the promotion play-off spot in North One by Hull Ionians.

Boro were without several key players but were the more creative side. Hull, however, were strong and direct and had an outstanding No 8 in Ben Sanders, who scored two individual tries.

A Simon Moore penalty put Boro ahead but they trailed 15-3 before skipper Gavin Fingland scored from a line-out. Scrum half Ali Little weaved his way over from a scrum on the 22 for their other try, and they were only seven points adrift until they conceded two late tries.

Morpeth escaped the drop in North Two East by winning 48-12 at bottom club Horden, sending down Malton and Norton, who lost 37-26 at home to Huddersfield.

West Hartlepool finished sixth, one place below Rovers, after ending on a high with a 22-21 win at fourth-placed Alnwick.

West forged ahead with tries by Jonny Boatman and Andrew Hare then David Tighe landed a penalty after Alnwick had hit back to lead 13-12.

Alnwick took control again in the second-half with a try and drop goal, but Tighe converted a try by Darren Thomas to clinch West's win.

Former West players Jamie Connolly and Paul Beal were among the scorers as relegated Redcar led 19-17 at half-time at home to Rovers, but the visitors romped away to win 35-26.

Rovers tries were scored by Steve Wallis, Brian Foreman, Jonny Nicholls, Andrew Lilley and Gareth Foreman, who added the goal points.

Stockton finished seventh after Jeremy Good landed a penalty from just inside halfway with the last kick of the match to clinch a 27-24 win at home to champions Westoe, who rested several players ahead of Wednesday's Durham Cup semi-final at home to Mowden Park.

Stockton led 24-10 with 15 minutes left, but Westoe ensured a thrilling finish through two tries converted by David Haswell.

Durham City tuned up for a promotion play-off at home to Wheatley Hills next Saturday with a 79-0 win at Hartlepool and even went close to automatic promotion in Durham and Northumberland One. Percy Park finished one point ahead after scrambling to a 26-21 win at home to Billingham.