THE alarm bells are ringing for Darlington Mowden Park after a fifth successive defeat raised prospects of joining their neighbours in a battle against relegation from National Three North.

The revival of Dudley Kingswinford, who won at Mowden three weeks ago, means it is by no means clear which three teams will go down.

Darlington are fourth from the bottom after losing 42-12 at Bradford and Bingley and Mowden are only two places above them after being leapfrogged by Blaydon.

Last Saturday's 21-5 home defeat by Blaydon was the latest setback in a depressing run, which they will be desperate to end tomorrow at Rugby Lions, who are also having a poor run.

Martin Shaw has taken over the fly half position and the captaincy for Mowden as Richard Holborough is unlikely to play for them again this season.

He was ruled out by injury three weeks ago and has now decided he needs to concentrate on passing his medical exams.

Former Newcastle Academy player Shaun Richardson has been signed from Middlesbrough to take Holborough's place and both he and Shaw did well against Blaydon.

But Mowden were well beaten up front, where flanker Fosita Tanginoa took an early knock and was always off the pace.

With Danny Brown unavailable, Mowden also had to recall Dave Sinclair at tight head for one final game before he leaves for New Zealand next Wednesday.

With Mark Bedworth still not back from injury until next week at the earliest, Matt Howland again caused some problems at inside centre against Blaydon after his long lay-off.

Another long-term casualty on the way back is Kelekolio Paino, who is expected to either play in the seconds tomorrow or sit on the first team bench.

Brown will be available tomorrow after featuring for the Newcastle Academy team on Monday, when Mowden wingers James Hamer and Peter Phelan were also playing.

Phelan put Mowden ahead after eight minutes last Saturday with a try following a clever kick by Shaw and the backs generally looked quite sharp.

But they didn't have enough ball to work with and that proved to be Mowden's only score.

One of their former players, hooker Matt Hall, proved a real workhorse for Blaydon, who themselves recently went through a run of seven defeats but have now won five on the trot.

Mowden weren't helped by having lock Ian Robinson and full back Iain Dixon sin-binned. Robinson had already been warned when he was yellow-carded for going into a maul from the side and while he was off Blaydon kicked their second penalty for a 6-5 half-time lead.

Four minutes after the break they drove Hall over for a converted try and although Mowden tried hard to fight back their attacks were easily snuffed out.

Dan Clappison kicked his third penalty for Blaydon, then Dixon was sin-binned for preventing a quick free kick.

Blaydon didn't take advantage of his absence but they did score a second try in injury time, when the forwards recycled the ball well and Hall sent winger Rob Windle over in the corner.

Darlington had a nightmare second half at Bradford and Bingley, where they led 12-10 at half-time before injuries took their toll and they shipped 32 points without reply.

Line-out possession dried up as they lost Richard Snowball and Michael Taylor through injury, and finally player-coach Craig Lee also had to go off with a neck problem.

The Bees had initially taken the lead with a superb early try, but Darlington settled well and went ahead through two tries in five minutes by Lee just before the half hour.

Ben Snook broke down the right wing and took the ball into contact five metres short after being unable to get it away to the supporting Martin Howe. A maul formed and Lee was driven over by the forwards.

Snook's excellent line kicking was rewarded shortly afterwards when, from a line-out five metres out, Darlington surprised their hosts by not going for the catch-and-drive.

Snowball, the catcher, was pulled to the ground, but he got the ball away and a miss-pass to Lee in the centre gave him the space to go under the posts for David Kell to convert.

Darlington were 12-7 up, but the Bees landed a penalty before half-time and, as on their visit to Blackwell Meadows, ran away with it in the second half.

Darlington must now hope that most of their casualties are fit for tomorrow's home match against Tynedale