WHAT A shame England v Australia was on TV as an enthralling Darlington derby deserved to be watched by anyone in the town with even a remote interest in the game.

Despite the visitors being shorn of six first-choice players, the match provided further evidence that Darlington is now firmly on the national league map.

The return of centre Mark Bedworth after injury proved decisive for Mowden as he kicked three penalties and supplied the passes for all three tries. But Darlington had a star of their own in scrum half Rob Stewart, whose searing breaks helped them back into the game when they looked like being overwhelmed.

The value of running a team in the Northern Second Teams League was clear as Darlington's replacements, such as fly half Ben Snook and forwards Matt Dilworth and Richard Parker, were able to step up and mostly hold their own.

But further losses didn't help as Leigh Johnson found that the game has moved on since he last played in the first team when he had to replace centre Lee Davis for the last 25 minutes, while full back David Kell was sent off after 69 minutes.

A touch judge saw him throw a punch, which was a rare indiscretion in a robust but cleanly-contested game effectively decided by Iain Dixon's second try five minutes from time.

Bedworth's conversion from the left touchline made it 30-20, but in injury time Snook landed a 26-metre penalty to keep the margin to seven points.

It meant that Darlington earned their fourth bonus point in recent weeks from narrow defeats against top teams. Darlington looked as though they expected a thumping as Mowden went 13-0 up after ten minutes.

But people like acting captain Richard Snowball and back row men Martin Howe and Del Lewis do not readily lie down.

They may have been helped by Mowden easing down a gear, but Darlington deservedly had the gap down to 13-12 at half-time and five minutes later they went ahead with their third try.

While half-time replacement Peni Fakalelu had already shown himself to be a turbo-charged prop, Mowden were also able to send on back row man Matt Holmes, who also had a big impact as the hosts took charge again.

But in the end they owed it to Bedworth's kicking. He landed two early penalties then kicked another one to the corner before slipping a short pass for full back Dixon to take at full tilt and race straight through the centre to go under the posts.

Stewart's first break sparked Darlington's fightback as he surged up the left touchline then Snook went for the line and 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 then Stewart made ground from a tap penalty.

The ball was moved right and slicker handling would have put the lively 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 a half-time rollicking 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. But Mowden 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 and when he passed to Snowball the rangy 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. A converted try would have put them back in front, but they opted for the kick, which Kell landed shortly before his dismissal.

Mowden 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 and Bedworth's huge pass sent Dixon over.

It meant Darlington had to score twice, and they had to be content with Snook's penalty.

Result: Darlington Mowden Park 30 Darlington 23.