Darlington Mowden Park: On a glorious late winter's morning, ideal for rugby, Acklam visited Mowden Under-16s on Sunday, February 15.

The pitch was in excellent order and a tribute to the hard-work of the groundsman, Graham Sykes.

Traditionally, this fixture has resulted in a keenly contested and competitive encounter, and this match was to be no different. The quality of the rugby from both sides was excellent and a joy to watch for both sets of supporters. The early exchanges were very even with both packs of forwards weighing each other up.

After 25 minutes of the half the decisive score of the match by No 8 Adam Thompson resulted from a pick up from the base of a 5-metre scrum. This followed excellent work by the Mowden scrummage, and in particular hooker Dominique Lewis in pinching the put in against the head. The try was duly converted by centre Adam Lancaster to give Mowden a seven point to nil half-time lead.

The second half continued in the same vane as the first with both sides playing some enjoyable rugby. Twice during the half, the Mowden props - Ben McGill and Dale Patterson - each carried the ball over the opposition line only to be denied the touch-down by the referee who was un-sighted on both occasions. The game ended with Acklam on the attack, but stout and resolute defending by all the Mowden team prevented the visitors from getting on the scoresheet.

Adam Thompson was selected man of the match - being involved in every facet of the game and typifying the new found team belief and determination.

It was an excellent result at 7-0, and the squad's first victory over Acklam. Well done one and all, particularly in keeping the opposition to nil.

Stockton visited Mowden on Sunday, February 22, a glorious, but windy late winter's morning, a super contest evolved between the two evenly matched teams, and an excellent advertisement for running rugby played in the true spirit of the game.

The game started with Stockton playing with the stiff breeze at their backs, and they were quickly able to establish good field position in and around the Mowden 22 metre line. Some fine tackling and good defence from the Mowden lads repelled the initial attacks. After about 20 minutes of sustained pressure the Stockton No 8 breached the Mowden line following a pick up and drive from a short range scrum. The try was duly converted. Playing into the elements the Mowden lads did not settle for damage limitation, and instead steadily started obtaining good field position of their own following some excellent inter-play between forwards and backs. Following a series of penalties awarded in the Stockton 22 metre area, the equalising score came from stand-off Michael Gillham whose mazy run ended in a try under the posts. Captain Adam Webb duly converted, resulting in a tied half-time scoreline.

With the elements in their favour, the Mowden lads quickly established good field position and attacked continuously at the start of the half. After ten minutes of stout defending by the Stockton lads, the line was breached following a driving maul from a short penalty. With a grin reminiscent of Charlie Faulkner, prop Dominique Lewis emerged from the bottom of the pile to record his first try of the season - duly converted by Webb. From the kick-off the Mowden team went on the attack again but were repelled by some excellent defensive work. The continued pressure eventually told when replacement centre Adam Lancaster crashed over following a typically robust run from a short penalty. The pressure continued, but poor passing with the line at their mercy allowed the Stockton centre to hack ahead, pick up and win the chase from the half-way line for the score. Five minutes from the end, the win was eventually secured when centre Dale Patterson crashed over following good work from the Mowden forwards. The try was excellently converted from wide-out by Adam Lancaster. With the game won the Mowden team kept up the pressure but were unable to add to the scoreline of 28-12.

Pack leader Neil Morgan was selected man of the match following excellent all round support play.

An excellent result, worthy of the new found team spirit.

Mowden Park Under-17s lined up against a mixed Stockton team for the semi-final of the Durham County Cup on a cold windy Sunday morning. Despite continual pressure from Mowden Park, who more or less camped in the Stockton 22 for the first 15 minutes, Stockton had the first real crack at the scoreboard with a long but wind-assisted penalty kick. This went wide and Park stormed back, and finally scored in the corner following a pickup from the rear of the scrum. Not surprisingly, fly half Jason Todd failed to convert his own try into a strong wind. Then, as a few flakes of snow began to fall, a missed tackle allowed the Stockton right wing to slip over in the corner and they were unlucky not to convert as the kick hit the crossbar. The teams broke for half time with the score 5-5.

Mowden were able to take much better advantage of the wind in the second half, despite periodic blizzards of snow. Within a couple of minutes, a long kick through had set up a good attacking position, and a couple of good drives by the Mowden forwards set up centre Adam Hunt to force over. Jason Todd duly converted. A sustained period of pressure and attacks, with a try disallowed from a well-executed kick out to full back Jason Elliott coming in on the wing, took its toll. Returning scrum-half Scott Peacock was able to sack his opposite number from a scrum; no. 8 Chris Dodd clamed the loose ball and made the hard yards, and the ball was flashed out to wing Carl Outhewaite who scored in the corner. Less than 5 minutes later, a penalty on the half-way line led to a line out 15 metres out. Chris Dodd almost made the touchdown but was held up, but went on to break from the rear of a subsequent scrum, and run through to score. Jason Todd converted, leaving the final score at 24-5 to Darlington Mowden Park.

Mowden Park now progress to a final against Houghton-le-Spring, who defeated Darlington 17-12 in the other semi-final.

Durham County

THE Under-20s team to play Northumberland at Durham City on Sunday, March 7 (2.15pm) is: 15 Andrew Greaves (Durham University), 14 Paul Shepherd (Billingham), 13 Max McAllister (Durham University), 12 Chris Metcalfe (Durham City), 11 Craig Shepherd (Billingham), 10 Chris Sainty (Hartlepool Rovers), 9 Tom Basey (Captain) (Durham University), 1 Richard Campbell (Durham University), 2 David Rogers (Durham University), 3 Sunny Thandi (Gateshead), 4 Carl Miller (West Hartlepool), 5 Stuart Walker (Durham University), 6 Scott Powell (Stockton), 7 Newton Turton (Houghton), 8 Michael Taylor (Hartlepool).

* Replacements to be selected on match day subject to conditions.