MOWDEN Park are in a mire partly of their own making. Although they have been unlucky with injuries to key men like Mark Bedworth, they appear to be suffering from a lack of firm foundations.

Assembling a team of itinerants hasn't worked, the link with Newcastle Falcons continues to show no benefit and there are question marks over the coaching.

Of 38 players in their squad at the start of the season - they all appear in the programme - only 16 were available on Saturday.

Eight are Newcastle Development players who have been seen not at all or very fleetingly, six have left and the rest are injured.

After a poor start to the season Mowden did well for two months until injuries kicked in, and now a seventh successive defeat has left them two points above a relegation place.

There was a tangible lack of confidence in their dreadful start on Saturday, but then they played with enough spirit to have led at half-time.

Instead they trailed 15-8 and once it became 25-8 there was no way back.

They will somehow have to find a way to turn their grievances over the original postponement to their advantage in next Saturday's rearranged match at Blaydon.

Rumours have spread in National Three North that, like New Brighton, Mowden have stopped paying their players. These are not true in Mowden's case and if they are true of New Brighton it doesn't seem to have cost them any members of their powerful, well-drilled pack.

The Merseysiders had nothing outside, but their forward cohesion made Mowden look like a collection of individuals.

Centres Iain Dixon and Matt Howland were always a threat, but they also made mistakes, typifying the team's performance.

Dixon scored a try and made the running for the other two, both finished off by flanker Matt Wright.

But Dixon also kicked the ball dead when trying to put a penalty into the corner, and a kick into touch on the full allowed New Brighton a line-out platform just outside the 22 which led to a try.

There was a flicker of hope when Dixon's try 12 minutes from time got the gap down to 25-15, but then prop Danny Brown blotted his copybook.

He had started very well, but he joined the fans in voicing his frustration to referee Alan Hughes and from the resulting penalty to touch the visitors scored their third catch-and-drive try.

Their other try came straight after half-time when they collected the kick-off and drove 20 metres before sending the ball left then right with virtually their only slick movement of the match.

Ian Robinson had a good game at No 6 for Mowden, while another former Middlesbrough player, Shaun Richardson, provided an impressive service from scrum half and Paul Evans beavered manfully at No 8.

In fact, the whole team showed glimpses of individual talent but the sum of the parts fell short because they were also guilty of far too many mistakes.

Mowden's poor start stemmed from failing to collect the kick-off and they quickly conceded a converted try.

The first of several good runs by Dixon seemed to inject some confidence and spirit into Mowden and they deservedly went 8-7 ahead.

Dixon kicked a penalty then made the running for Robinson to send Wright over, but the visitors came back to drive No 8 Katilimoni Tuipolotu over again.

Mowden could have gone back in front after Evans and Robinson broke away off the back off a scrum which was under pressure. A sweeping move covered 70 metres, but Howland was stopped just short then a dropped pass allowed New Brighton to break out and kick a penalty.

When they scored again straight after the interval, Mowden sent on Newcastle Development hooker Stuart Mackie.

But it was a tall order for him to influence this game and more forward pressure ended with a maul being pulled down and New Brighton kicked the penalty to lead 25-8.

The late tries couldn't even earn Mowden a bonus point, which meant they slipped below Darlington, and they will not want their fate to hinge on their April 2 trip to Cleckheaton.