Mowden need Falcons' help to stop the slide

A sixth successive defeat, by 18-3 at Rugby Lions, saw them slip to fifth from the bottom, only seven points above a relegation place.

It was not the best of send-offs for long-serving prop Dave Sinclair, who led the team out on his final appearance before he leaves for New Zealand and was later presented with a hip flask after a whip-round among the players.

Mowden's link with Newcastle was supposed to help them gain promotion, but after seeing little of any Falcons' Development XV players this season they now need a few to help them stop the rot.

It doesn't help that the Falcons are a prop light after losing Marius Hurter, but Mowden will at least hope to see more of their own tight head product, Danny Brown, and possibly Ed Kalman as well.

There are no easy games left, with next Saturday's visit of New Brighton presenting as good an opportunity as any for a win.

It should be a big help if Mark Bedworth returns from injury as he will need a match under his belt before the following week's rearranged clash at Blaydon.

Mowden dominated for the first 15 minutes and moved the ball around well without looking like breaking down a solid defence.

They led through an Iain Dixon penalty, but then came under pressure and the home scrum half nipped over for a converted try from a scrum.

Further pressure after Rugby drove a line-out 25 metres saw Mowden concede four penalties in quick succession and lock Ian Robinson was sin-binned. While he was off Rugby scored again to lead 12-3 at half-time.

Mowden threw away two glorious chances when Fosita Tanginoa failed to give a scoring pass then full back Michael Georgiou knocked on with the line at his mercy.

In a scrappy second half in heavy conditions Mowden were under increasing pressure up front and conceded penalties after 63 and 78 minutes.

Blaydon's run of five wins ended with a 12-3 home defeat by Bradford and Bingley, the bonus point edging them ahead of Mowden.

They defended stoutly against pacy backs and neither side seriously threatened to score a try, although Blaydon twice failed to make use of first half overlaps.

Two penalties by the division's most accurate kicker, Tom Rhodes, put the visitors 6-0 ahead before Dan Clappison replied on the stroke of half-time.

Inspired by No 8 Gavin Stainsby, Blaydon threatened to take charge but were sunk by two more penalties from Rhodes.

Middlesbrough remain next to bottom in North One after losing 34-28 at Altrincham Kersal, where they led 28-24 with ten minutes left.

A converted interception try put the hosts ahead and they added a drop goal at the death.

Boro played with a lot of spirit in a fluctuating game. They led 10-0 then trailed 17-15 before the first of two tries by centre Neil Baggett put them 20-17 in front at half-time.

They weren't helped by losing Mark Kerruish early in the game, with Lee Richardson going on to play out of position in the back row.

The other tries came from Ian Bradford and Andy Micklewright, with a penalty each by Simon Moore and Dave Richardson plus a conversion by Moore.

Although West Hartlepool remain a place below neighbours Rovers in North Two East, they completed a treble, including the Boxing Day friendly, with a 13-11 home win.

Given their set-piece dominance, Rovers should have had more than a 3-0 half-time lead and although they were 11-3 ahead with seven minutes of normal time left they couldn't hang on.

The West fightback started with scrum half Darren Thomas chipping ahead and following up to tackle Michael Walton, with the ball running loose over the line for flanker Jonny Boatman to score.

In injury time David Tighe found a long touch from a penalty on halfway and after several drives the ball went along the line and Andrew Hare forced his way over.

Good kicking by Walton relieved early West pressure, then Rovers looked certain to score when scrum half Andy Foreman broke from his own half. But Thomas got back to stop him.

Foreman was switched to centre after the break, his goal-kicking brother Gareth going to scrum half. He landed two penalties either side of a 51st minute try by the third brother, full back Brian, who took a pass from winger Andrew Lilley after the ball had gone along the line. The missed conversion proved crucial.

Horden climbed off the bottom and dragged their visitors into trouble with a 20-3 home win against Stockton.

There was little to choose between the sides, but Horden scored two breakaway tries and Stockton's only reward for a lot of pressure was a penalty just before half-time, making the score 12-3.

They pressed for much of the second half, but had a try disallowed for a forward pass then conceded a 70-metre interception try to Chris Purvis. Back row men Craig Gilmour and Ray Pink scored Horden's other tries, with Andy Turner adding a conversion and a penalty.

Redcar are also slipping into trouble after losing 36-10 at Malton and Norton, where they were 31-0 down at half-time. The hosts scored six tries.