WINGER Andy Micklewright scored five first half tries as Middlesbrough stepped up their promotion bid in North Two East.

They won their rearranged game at home to Northern 59-19 to move back above Morpeth into second place with two games left.

Victory at home to the Northumberland club in two weeks will clinch a promotion play-off, in which they would be likely to be at home to Caldy.

The Wirral club look certain to finish second in North Two West and barring another defeat Boro would be at home. Both sides have 15 wins from 20 games, but Boro have the edge with two draws.

Despite the wind, Boro took every opportunity to move the ball around on Saturday and most of the traffic went down the right.

Apart from Micklewright's five tries, centre Lee Richardson and full back Simon Moore also scored down that side.

Playing downwind, Boro led 35-5 at half-time, starting with a pushover try by No 8 Mark Hatfield after five minutes.

Hooker Richard Horton scored from a driving maul and the rest of the points came from Micklewright, with none of the tries being converted.

Scrum half Peter Wright went off with 15 minutes left, prompting a reshuffle which brought Tom Bivens on to the wing and he scored two tries.

In the first game to be played in the Durham Cup, West Hartlepool scored three tries under the posts and won 21-10 at home to Horden.

Facing the wind, Horden led 10-7 just before the interval but West scored on the stroke of half-time for a 14-10 lead and defended superbly in the second half.

Their third try came after 45 minutes when outside centre Peter Hodgson took an excellent pass from Allan Milne on the burst and crashed through to score.

West's first half tries were similar efforts by half backs Darren Thomas and David Tighe, both breaking through from around 25 metres. Tighe added all the conversions.

Andrew Turner kicked a 15th minute penalty for Horden and converted the 39th minute try when prop Graeme Holloway was driven over for a 10-7 lead.

But although they tried to use the wind by kicking for position in the second half, Turner had only one chance at goal, which he missed in the 60th minute.

West will be away to Blaydon in next Saturday's semi-final and if Blaydon win it threatens to cause more fixture chaos.

Normally league games take precedence, but not in the case of county cup finals, which are scheduled for April 24.

Blaydon have also had to rearrange their home game against Waterloo for that day.

If Waterloo win the National Three North title showdown at Halifax a fortnight earlier they will be home and dry; if not the Blaydon match will be of huge significance.

Blaydon were grateful just to arrive safely at Fylde on Saturday after a perilous coach journey across the gale-blown A66, but they came away with a 15-6 win.

They are now only a point behind third-placed Darlington Mowden Park and the teams meet at Crow Trees on April 3.

Despite arriving at the ground much later than anticipated, Blaydon scored after two minutes when the ball was whipped out and full back Nick Gandy came into the line to score.

Following the previous week's shock defeat by Liverpool St Helens, Blaydon were a different team with skipper Dave Guthrie back at lock.

Fylde never looked like scoring a try and prolific kicker Mike Scott was restricted to three shots at goal, landing two of them.

Dan Clappison also kicked a penalty for Blaydon to make it 8-3 at half-time after they had the benefit of the diagonal wind.

They were under the cosh for the first 20 minutes of the second half, but then dominated as Fylde tired and Blaydon were rewarded with a try by hooker Sam Walton. Clappison landed a superb conversion from the touchline.

Depleted Tynedale helped to ensure Darlington's survival by winning 24-10 at Liverpool. Phil Belgian kicked four penalties, two from 60 metres, in the first half and also converted a penalty try for a 19-5 lead.

Against the wind they hung on comfortably through the efforts of their smaller pack.

Winger Chris Mattison, who recently returned to Durham City from Mowden Park, scored two tries as City won their Durham Intermediate Cup tie 38-12 at home to West Hartlepool TDSOB.

Northallerton's decline since the injury to skipper and coach Steve Robinson continued as they went out of the Yorkshire Shield through a 20-15 defeat at Wath on Dearne.