A PULSATING Darlington derby saw Mowden Park emerge as winners by 30-23 at Yiewsley Drive last Saturday, but the visitors had reason to be satisfied.

They went into the match without six first-choice players and came out of it two places higher in National Three North, while Mowden slipped a place.

This strange situation came about because of the new bonus points system and, as Mowden failed to gain an extra point for scoring a fourth try, they were overtaken by New Brighton and now lie seventh with a game in hand.

By keeping the margin down to seven points Darlington earned their fourth bonus point in recent weeks from narrow defeats against top teams, and it enabled them to leap above Kendal and Cleckheaton on points difference.

Darlington are now tenth and their most realistic ambition for this season is to stay there as a big gap separates them from the teams above.

While Saturday's match underlined that the town is now firmly on the national league map, it was slightly marred towards the end by the sending-off of Darlington full back David Kell.

Although the referee didn't see it, he accepted the word of a touch judge that 19-year-old Kell had thrown a punch. It was an innocuous blow in a match which was otherwise keenly contested in an excellent spirit, and Kell could count himself a little unlucky to be only the second player in National Three North to be red-carded this season.

Apart from the Lee brothers, who were at a wedding, Darlington were without lock Tom Wilkinson (shoulder), No 8 Michael Taylor (hamstring), hooker Dan Oselton (back) and winger Fraser Monohan (hand).

Among those who would have stepped in, flanker Ian Fulwood was also injured, centre David Glendenning had flu and two possible replacements, James Snowball and David Taylor, had mumps.

The value of running a team in the Northern Second Teams League was clear as the replacements they did bring in, such as fly half Ben Snook and forwards Matt Dilworth and Richard Parker, were able to give a good account of themselves.

It didn't look that way at first as they went 13-0 down after ten minutes and seemed to expect a good hiding. But they roused themselves as Mowden dropped down a gear and the gap was down to 13-12 at half-time. Darlington scored a third try to take the lead shortly afterwards, but Mowden had greater strength on the bench.

By sending on prop Peni Fakalelu and back row man Matt Holmes, who had a big impact on his return after injury, they were able to beef up the forward effort and were deserving winners.

The return of centre Mark Bedworth after injury proved decisive for Mowden as he kicked three penalties, three conversions and supplied the passes for all three tries.

But equal billing in the man of the match stakes went to Darlington scrum half Rob Stewart, whose high-speed breaks turned the game and ensured it was competitive.

Further losses didn't help Darlington as Leigh Johnson, who has been out of the first team picture for several years, had to replace centre Lee Davis for the last 25 minutes, then Kell was dismissed 11 minutes from time.

The score at the time was 23-20 and, with Mowden pressing only a few metres from the line, Kell's punch helped them to the decisive try.

They kicked the resultant penalty to the corner and drove to the line without convincing the referee they had got the ball down. He awarded a scrum, Bedworth's huge pass found Iain Dixon on the left wing and the full back raced over for his second try.

Bedworth's conversion from the touchline made it 30-20, but in injury time Snook landed a 26-metre penalty to earn Darlington their bonus point.

As against Halifax and Tynedale, they had to earn it by fighting back after a poor start in which they were punished by Bedworth.

He landed two early penalties then kicked another one to the corner before slipping a short pass for Dixon to take at full tilt and race straight through the centre to go under the posts.

Stewart kick-started the fightback by surging up the left touchline then Snook went for the line and flanker Martin Howe burrowed over, Kell converting.

Darlington dominated the last 15 minutes of the first half and they should have scored again when they drove a maul before Stewart made ground from a tap penalty. The ball was moved right and slicker handling would have put the impressive Frankie Coulson over, but he was well tackled by Gareth Kerr.

Mowden's other winger, Tom Lauriston, was sin-binned for killing the ball after another good attack was stopped five metres short, but Darlington had their reward shortly afterwards.

Again they drove a maul then moved the ball right before a series of drives took them almost to the line and the ball came back on the short side for centre Richard Lang to touch down.

After harsh words at half-time, Mowden quickly pressed, only for Bedworth to miss a penalty, following which Snook put in an excellent clearance.

Another blind side break by Stewart, followed by good handling across the backs, saw Darlington go ahead through a try in the right corner by Coulson.

This really stung Mowden and they immediately hit back with Bedworth breaking through to send fellow centre Martin Shaw under the posts.

They looked certain to score again when Holmes and fellow flanker Fosita Tanginoa surged away after a quickly-taken penalty on halfway, only for a knock-on to ruin the move.

Bedworth's third penalty made it 23-17, but a clearance which failed to find touch allowed Stewart to go on a high-speed side-stepping run down the middle. He passed to Snowball and the athletic lock was in full cry for the posts when an ankle tap by Richard Holbrough brought him down ten metres short.

Darlington drove for the line and when they were stopped just short a penalty was awarded, which Kell kicked shortly before his dismissal.

He will be available for tomorrow's home match against Fylde, but can expect a ban when his disciplinary hearing comes up.

Darlington hope to have all their first-choice players back apart from Wilkinson, who will be out for a few weeks, for the visit of the third-placed club.

Mowden, meanwhile, will want another win away to struggling Dudley Kingswinford ahead of next week's visit of unbeaten leaders Halifax followed by a trip to second-placed Macclesfield