DESPITE defeat by the team who look cast-iron certainties to finish top of National Three North, there was plenty to encourage Darlington.

They moved out of the bottom three by claiming a bonus point for reducing the gap to seven points with two late converted tries, and the three 19-year-olds didn't look out of place in such elevated company.

Once he fills out, new No 8 Michael Taylor could become as effective as lock Richard Snowball, who may have taken a little too seriously suggestions that all his game lacks is aggression.

He was sin-binned for the second time this season for punching a player who was blatantly on the wrong side in a maul.

While it would not have happened had referee Alan Hughes, or the touch judge less than ten metres away, intervened earlier, it effectively killed off Darlington's chances as Halifax scored two tries while Snowball was off to lead 30-6.

As soon as he returned Darlington drove a maul 15 metres and David Kell kicked his third penalty prior to converting the two tries.

The left-footed Kell's first penalty, from the left touchline ten metres outside the 22, showed he is a good striker, and although he missed a couple of easier chances he looks a good find.

He may have been out of position when Halifax scored their first try from a chip to the corner, but generally he and Lee Davis, at outside centre, acquitted themselves well.

On this evidence, Darlington will win more home games than they lose and they will probably need to as it is currently difficult to nominate who will occupy the third relegation slot.

Although Halifax are well-organised and efficient rather than pretty to watch, Darlington's more adventurous approach ensured it was an entertaining game.

They were never ahead, but at 3-3 they could have taken the lead after 15 minutes when Paul Lee made a lovely break and his brother Craig dropped his pass.

He wasn't alone after all the rain, with Halifax's powerful No 8 dropping a lot of ball, and the visitors deserved their 11-6 interval lead.

Darlington held out valiantly in the last ten minutes of the half, with Snowball, Taylor and Paul Lee putting in crucial tackles, while Martin Howe was as industrious as ever.

Halifax twice kicked penalties to the corner in this period, but on the second occasion they were driven back and the same happened at a scrum shortly afterwards after Kell and Marc Potts combined to fumble another dangerous chip.

When visiting fly half Doug Sanft missed a simple penalty deep into added time, it seemed Darlington could benefit from weathering the storm, especially when Davis, Kell and Potts produced a good attack up the left on the resumption.

Ten minutes into the second half Darlington were threatening to go ahead when they drove a maul 20 metres into the 22.

But when they let the ball out they lost it and Halifax swooped to send former West Hartlepool and Leeds centre Craig Emmerson racing 60 metres to score.

It was a cruel blow, and with Snowball's yellow card coming five minutes later the game slipped away from Darlington.

There was a suspicion of a forward pass in the moves which produced both the tries which took Halifax 30-6 clear, and it was to Darlington's enormous credit that they had the will and the stamina to fight back.

Halifax had a prop yellow-carded after a flare-up and Darlington kicked a penalty to the corner, with flanker Howe being driven over from the line-out.

From the restart Snowball caught the ball, evaded the first tackle and charged through two more on a storming 30-metre run.

Darlington kept the pressure on and scrum half Rob Stewart burrowed over from a ruck in injury time.

Kell again converted to ensure the bonus point, with which Darlington would be well satisfied as they could easily have folded at 30-6 down.

Result: Darlington 23 Halifax 30.