IT MIGHT not have been pretty but it was well worth missing the first half at Twickenham on Saturday to witness the gripping drama at Blackwell Meadows.

The upshot was that there will definitely be more Darlington derbies in National Three North next season, and while neither of this season's encounters has produced flowing rugby there was enough excitement in this one to whet the appetite for more.

Hopefully the nasty facial injury suffered by Mowden player-coach Richard Arnold will not sour relations, especially as there is every chance the clubs will meet again shortly in the Durham Cup.

Arnold retired after 20 minutes for stitches near an eye following a controversial incident in which the referee initially awarded a penalty try to Darlington.

But even as he stood 20 metres from the collapsed maul with his arm raised under the posts it was obvious that the early fractiousness had raised its head again.

The touch judge on the far side intervened and the try was wiped out with a penalty going to Mowden instead, while Dan Miller was sent to the sin bin apparently for use of the boot.

When Mowden also lost Tony Irwin with a shoulder injury shortly after half-time their loss of back row strength proved crucial.

Leading only 10-7 at the break after playing with the gale, Darlington looked certain losers, especially when a Mark Bedworth penalty levelled the scores with 30 minutes left.

But the wonderfully resolute home forwards drove relentlessly forward for the rest of the game and a penalty try in the 80th minute clinched victory.

It was a just reward for the tremendous efforts of people like lock Richard Snowball, who had played in England Students' win against Wales at Clifton the previous day.

That match also featured hooker Dan Oselton, who went on for the second half on Saturday and slotted perfectly into Darlington's tactics.

His brother Joe had to wait until the 70th minute to replace prop Paul Shepherd, who also had an excellent game.

Darlington are generally known for their free-flowing rugby, but there could be no fancy stuff in Saturday's wind and they had to fall back on plan B.

Under Phil Lancaster's coaching they have also been well-schooled in the finer arts of the driving maul, and there was little wonder that the former North prop was delighted with the dividends.

"It was a fantastic performance," he said. "In the second half we knew exactly what we had to do. I just told them to take it a metre at a time, and if it took 100 paces to get up the field then so be it.

"Sometimes when we practise this people don't realise what we are trying to do, but now they have seen the dividends.

"Snowball was tremendous. He's got the skills and he has now developed a gritty edge to his game. Sometimes I worry that he's playing too much rugby, but you can't stop him.

"We make a point of putting the backs into rucks and mauls as well, telling them they're not just there to do the pretty boy stuff.

"The club is buzzing and people enjoy watching us. Whether we are playing open rugby or doing it like today it's always exciting.

"I think we're safe from relegation now, but we won't be taking anything for granted. We have the top two to play and it would be nice to beat one of them."

Victory took Darlington to eighth place, a very creditable performance considering they were on minus two points in early October.

As is often the case, both teams played better into the wind. With Irwin usually at the heart of it, Mowden's early pick-and-drives were impressive and when they did come under pressure from Darlington's maul they defended superbly near their own line.

A Mowden win looked certain after they scored a breakaway try after 15 minutes, when winger Andy Foreman stopped a kick going into touch on his own 22.

He cut inside, beat three tackles and when he set off up the middle he suddenly found fellow winger Suka Hufanga in support.

Almost two months after joining them, the Tongan international took the pass for his first touch of the ball for Mowden and raced 40 metres to the posts.

His recovery from a hamstring injury had been a well-kept secret, but he had few further opportunities after taking the place supposedly earmarked for Kelekolio Paino.

Bedworth converted the try and Mowden hung on to their 7-3 lead until the 40th minute, when Miller nipped over after Martin Howe took a quick penalty five metres from the line.

Mark Butler converted to add to his fourth-minute penalty, but Darlington's lack of nous in harnessing the wind seemed certain to prove costly.

They needed the victory more than Mowden, however, and it showed, especially after sending on David Andrew and Dan Oselton with 30 minutes left.

Mowden sent on Newcastle Academy lock Sean Tomes when Irwin was injured, switching Jon Dye to blind side, but their momentum was dwindling.

Bedworth even tried a penalty from five metres inside his own half, but as the match entered the last ten minutes Mowden's desperation in the face of increasingly relentless mauling saw them concede five penalties in quick succession.

Someone had to go to the bin, and scrum half Richard Holborough was the unfortunate one. Two infringements later came the penalty try decision and Craig Lee added the conversion.

It wasn't quite over because Mowden came back strongly and it was Darlington's turn to infringe, with flanker Andrew Carphin departing to the bin.

Mowden kicked the penalty to the corner but failed to get over, bringing joy to the home fans at the final whistle. Derby victories are always sweet, but they are all the sweeter when accompanied by the relief of avoiding relegation.