IN front of their main sponsors, the Horror Channel, Darlington bared their fangs to overcome an early second half fright and record a crucial victory.

The Gateshead-based Sky movie channel have agreed a two-year deal through their managing director, Tony Hazell, whose son, Nicky, plays with the Darlington minis.

Hazell said: "I see it as a good opportunity to promote the channel nationally and to help the grass roots of the game, so some of the money is going to the minis."

Horror Channel chairman Tony Brill presented the Man of the Match award to Darlington scrum half Rob Stewart, whose individual try ten minutes from time proved decisive.

It wasn't quite a spine-chiller, but the victory looked unlikely when Darlington, facing the wind, saw their 22-5 half-time lead cut to three points within 15 minutes. But the forwards dug deep, drove the mauls and Stewart suddenly broke from a ruck 40 metres out to race in at the left corner.

As it was the fourth try it earned them a five-point maximum and kept them at the head of the six-team pack who have been cast adrift of the rest in National Three North.

Winger Marc Potts scored two of the tries as Darlington overturned an early 5-0 deficit against the side who were third in the table.

The visitors were without their goal-kicking fly half and captain, Mike Scott, but he would have had few opportunities to kick at goal.

The man who really threatened to put the bite on Darlington was pacy Fylde full back Richard Kenyon, who shot through for two tries under the posts after half-time.

His opposite number, David Kell, was out of position for one of those scores, but he came to the rescue with a try-saving tackle when Kenyon came into the line and tried to put the left-winger over.

Coming midway through the second half, that was a big turning point as Fylde still looked likely winners. But Darlington cut back on the handling, which was producing too many errors, and shaded the last 20 minutes.

Fylde initially went ahead from a No 8 pick-up at a scrum 30 metres out, and with the defence pulled out of position it was left to Stewart to cover across in a vain attempt to stop the right winger.

Darlington's first try resulted from good handling by the backs, with Kell coming into the line to send Potts over.

Kell landed an excellent conversion then kicked a 40-metre penalty following a driving maul, but with the game only 15 minutes old Darlington had to replace hooker Rob Goddard with young Michael Stowe.

There was further disruption to the front row when Dan Miller was sin-binned. But with Paul Scott on Darlington won the next scrum against the head and Potts appeared on the crash ball at centre to shrug off a tackle and go under the posts.

Just befire half-time a break up the right touchline by flanker Martin Howe ended with Fylde killing the ball five metres short. They had a lock sin-binned and Darlington kicked the penalty to touch then drove over with prop Joe Oselton touching down.

After Kenyon's two tries Darlington came back and kicked a penalty to touch then drove on before the ball was released, only for Craig Lee's long pass to go to ground and allow Fylde to break away. Only a knock-on prevented them from taking the lead.

Then came Kell's crucial tackle and it was obvious Darlington needed another score.

It came when Potts put in a good run up the left and Stewart shot away from the ensuing ruck to outpace the cover.

A penalty got Fylde back within one score, but with the game entering injury time Darlington were awarded a penalty just outside the 22 halfway out on the left and Kell found the target.

Result: Darlington 30 Fylde 22.