THE INJURY toll, which seems to grow worse every season, has already started to kick in and Darlington were the real sufferers on Saturday.

While Blaydon had two players injured in the warm-up, they emerged as the only survivors from the four North-East teams in the first round of the Powergen Cup.

Darlington also lost a player in the warm-up, suffered more injuries during the game at Rugby Lions and lost 62-3.

Skipper Richard Holbrough was a late withdrawal through injury ahead of Darlington Mowden Park's tie at Cleckheaton, which they lost 28-17, while Tynedale went down 26-20 at Hull.

Things got so bad for Darlington they had to play coach Phil Lancaster, normally a prop, 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 and Michael Taylor, and further problems in the front row meant that hooker Dan Oselton ended up at prop with South African 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.

Darlington had a remarkably injury-free run as they emerged from a similar poor start last season to survive comfortably in their first season in National Three North.

They face another long trek next week to Bedford Athletic, when flanker Martin Howe will be available after completing his three-week suspension.

They were on top for the first 30 minutes at Rugby before injuries and the sin-binning of Richard Snowball saw the hosts take advantage of 14 minutes of injury time to lead 38-0 at the break.

It was 0-0 after half an hour, but then the floodgates opened. Coach Craig Lee said: "We can take a lot of heart from the first 30 minutes, when we showed a lot of guts, but after that we just didn't have the personnel."

Both the town's clubs have lost all three of their matches to date and Mowden were well beaten after dominating the early stages at Cleckheaton.

They brought in Gareth Kerr on the wing, switching Andy Foreman to scrum half, where he did well during a dominant early phase.

Mowden also suffered injuries with Fosita Tanginoa doubtful for next week's 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 twice knocked on near the line and paid for their failure to score as 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 intially 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.

After two minutes on the field Smithson was yellow-carded for pulling down a line-out and Cleckheaton took control.

Their extra man allowed them to score another converted try to lead 17-0, then after Mark Bedworth kicked a penalty for Mowden the hosts replied with two in quick succession.

They made it 28-3 when poor tackling allowed them to score under the posts and Mowden sent on South Africa Under 21s fly half Michael Georgiou, who scored in injury time.

The try stemmed from good work by prop Peni Fakalalu and McLaren, who then took a quick penalty to send Smithson over, Bedworth adding the conversions.

Blaydon will be at home to Wharfedale, who are bottom of division two, in the second round on October 2 after winning 39-0 at Blackburn. They had to bring in Paul McLaren-Dorrington for his debut at tight head after a boot flicked the back of Fatu Tulaga's knee during the warm-up.

Then winger Simon Barber also suffered a knee injury and lasted only five minutes before being replaced by David Grand.

Both Grand and centre Nick Wainwright were being rested, but Wainwright also went on to play a big part when Robert Windle suffered a head injury, and lock Jimmy Houghton also had to go off with a shoulder problem.

Playing downwind, Blaydon did well for the first 15 minutes without finishing off their moves, then Dan Clappison kicked a penalty and No 8 Charlie Roe broke off a scrum to near the posts.

Blaydon handled superbly into the wind, retaining the ball for ten minutes after a poor restart by Blackburn, and centre Peter Kilburn cut through to score.

Hooker Matt Hall scored a good try, but Blaydon saved the best for last. They took a quick penalty inside their own 22 and a flowing move ensued in which Dave Guthrie featured twice and Wainwright three times.

He was heading for touch when he flicked a reverse pass inside to continue the move, which ended with fly half Dan Clappison scoring in the corner.

Middlesbrough won their Intermediate Cup tie at home to Old Crossleyans 41-27, with young full back Neil Baggott prominent early on as he scored a try and put in an excellent kick for winger Andy Micklewright to gather and race over.

The visitors landed a penalty then home centre Lee Richardson scored following a line-out and his brother, Dave, added his second conversion before touching down himself.

Lock Paul Johnson collected a loose ball to drive over before Crossleyans scored right on half-time to make it 29-10.

A flowing move sent winger Tom Bivens over for Boro, then hooker Richard Horton was driven over from a line-out. At 41-10 they eased off and the gallant visitors scored two late tries.

Chris Mattison and Darren McKinnon were among the try scorers as Durham City won their tie 28-12 at home to Billingham.

Gareth Foreman scored 28 points from three tries, five conversions and a penalty in Hartlepool Rovers' 48-17 win against Ponteland.

In the Powergen Junior Vase Northallerton won 42-6 at home to Old Otliensians with winger Ian Townsend and centre Ed Pratt scoring two tries each. There was also a try for back row man Ben Allerton and 17 points from fly half Brian Tucker with a try, two penalties and three conversions.

West Hartlepool won their rearranged North Two East match at home to Horden 12-0. In a tight game, centre Peter Hodgson cut through to score just before half-time, Dave Tighe converting, and in injury time Martin Todd's run set up a try for winger Andrew Hare.