THERE is to be no Powergen Cup run for the two Darlington clubs as both fell at the first hurdle last Saturday.

In fact, Darlington were trounced 62-3 at Rugby Lions and Mowden Park were well beaten at Cleckheaton, reducing the margin to 28-17 only by virtue of two late tries.

As both clubs are still looking for their first win after three games, Darlington can at least welcome back flanker Martin Howe after his suspension for tomorrow's trip to Bedford Athletic.

Mowden entertain Bradford and Bingley, who were unbeaten champions of North One last season and are coached by former England manager Geoff Cooke. They began with a home defeat by Tynedale, who then beat Mowden at home.

Darlington find themselves in a very similar position to this time last season, when they hadn't won a game and were suddenly short of props, forcing them to pull out of a game at Fylde.

With Paul Shepherd away and Joe Oselton injured, they drafted in Ali Carter last Saturday and had coach Phil Lancaster providing cover on the bench.

But further injuries meant that Lancaster had to play in the second row for the full second half and David Glendenning switched from centre to back row after 50 minutes.

This followed injuries to teenage forwards James Snowball, making his first senior start alongside his brother Richard, and Michael Taylor, and further problems in the front row meant that hooker Dan Oselton ended up at prop with South African newcomer David Taylor hooking.

Winger Paul Beattie, due to make his comeback after a year's absence, pulled a hamstring in the warm-up, forcing Rob Stewart to start on the wing with David Andrew at scrum half.

This in itself did not weaken the side and they did well for the first half hour, when they won more than their share of the ball but had nothing to show for it.

The score was 0-0 at that point, but then Richard Snowball was sin-binned and with the referee somehow finding 14 minutes of added time Rugby surged into a 38-0 lead at half-time.

Mowden also had to make a late change at scrum half when skipper Richard Holbrough failed a fitness test. They brought in Gareth Kerr on the wing, switching Andy Foreman to scrum half, where he put in two good runs during a dominant early phase.

Mowden also suffered injuries during the game with Tongan lock Fosita Tanginoa doubtful for the visit of Bradford and Bingley, while prop Dave Sinclair went off with a calf injury.

As in the home league clash two weeks earlier, they took the game to Cleckheaton early on with hooker Tasi Tuhana and flanker Matt Holmes prominent.

But they knocked on near the line, then lost the ball as they drove for the line following a line-out.

Cleckheaton came more into the game and took the lead with a 30th minute penalty following a high tackle.

Mowden defended well in the last ten minutes of the first half, but when they lost scrum ball they had initially won, the hosts ran it to score near the posts, the conversion making it 10-0 at the break.

Shortly after half-time Mowden took off back row men Holmes and Paul Evans and sent on Tom McLaren and former Newcastle Falcons Academy man Jason Smithson.

But Smithson's arrival proved a turning point as he had been on the field only two minutes when he was sin-binned for pulling down a line-out.

With an extra man Cleckheaton took control and scored another converted try to lead 17-0, then Mowden sent on South Africa Under-21s fly half Michael Georgiou in place of Jonny Golightly after 50 minutes.

Full back Mark Bedworth kicked a 54th minute penalty for Mowden but the hosts replied with two in quick succession, then Cleckheaton made it 28-3 when poor tackling allowed them to score under the posts.

As Mowden have lost Jonny Boatman to West Hartlepool, Tim Wilks is now further up the back row pecking order and went on for Matthew Wright after 60 minutes.

Mowden scored two tries in injury time, the first stemming from good work by replacement prop Peni Fakalalu and McLaren, who then took a quick penalty to send Smithson over. Bedworth added the conversions.

Results. - Powergen Intermediate Cup first round: Consett 52 Acklam 16; Middlesbrough 41 Old Crossleyans 27.

Powergen Junior Vase first round: Bishop Auckland 7 Sunderland 60; Northallerton 42 Old Otliensians 6; Richmondshire 24 Guisborough 13; Ripon 36 Barnard Castle 13; Wetherby 15 Yarm 10