DARLINGTON Mowden Park's flickering hopes of earning the promotion play-off place in National Three North will die if they lose at home to leaders Halifax on Saturday.

They were reminded of Waterloo's title credentials on Saturday as they lost 35-12 at Blundellsands, ending a run of eight wins stretching back to the home defeat by Waterloo.

Mowden were threatening to dent their hosts' 100 per cent record when they trailed only 15-12 at half-time.

But they gave away two penalties in the first ten minutes after the break and conceded two late converted tries.

Although Waterloo showed their class, the scoreline was not a fair reflection as Mowden had more than their share of the play in the last 20 minutes.

They could also have taken an early lead, but Iain Dixon missed a penalty after Andy Foreman had put in a sniping run into the danger area.

Waterloo were sharper and slicker for the next 20 minutes and moved the ball from one wing to the other for their first try after ten minutes.

They missed an easy penalty before piling on more pressure and driving over from a line-out, adding the conversion then a penalty to lead 15-0.

But Mowden came back strongly and after a good passage of play by the forwards flanker Tony Irwin scored in the corner.

Then fly half Dave Richardson made a break and chipped ahead for full back Dixon to touch down and add the conversion.

Prop Dave Sinclair and a Waterloo flanker were sin-binned after 38 minutes and two minutes after the break the hosts kicked a simple penalty.

It was typical of the rest of the match that Mowden then applied pressure but couldn't break down an excellent defence, and when Waterloo broke out through a long kick Mowden were penalised for not releasing and fell 21-12 behind.

They sent on Danny Brown for Sinclair and Jonny Boatman for Richard Arnold, who had a rib injury, and were generally on top for the last 20 minutes.

But pace and good handling led to Waterloo's third try and in injury time they broke away and scored from a line-out.

Blaydon left for Dudley at 7.30 and arrived back at 2am following bus troubles, and their problems on the pitch in an 18-3 defeat weren't helped by the referee retiring with a hamstring injury.

A touch judge took over and struggled in a highly-charged game, awarding three dubious penalties which took Dudley clear.

Blaydon lost Nick Williams just after half-time with a shoulder injury and could now be without a scrum half as Micky Dungait is also injured and Simon Stoker has gone back to Newbury.

Blaydon went ahead through a penalty by Richard Windle, but were generally outgunned up front.

Injury-hit Tynedale lost 26-17 at Macclesfield, who led 20-0 after 50 minutes and were indebted to excellent kicking by Gary Bell, who had a 100 per cent record with four penalties and two conversions.

Tynedale came back well in the last half hour and won the try-count as Ben Duncan scored twice and scrum half Ed Holmes nipped over.

Middlesbrough's lead over Morpeth in the battle for the North Two East play-off place was narrowed as they drew 10-10 at home to West Hartlepool. It was a repeat of the result when the sides met at West, who are now unbeaten in seven games.

Boro led 5-0 at half-time through a try by winger Lee Davis and their bigger pack allowed them to go further ahead after 49 minutes when No 8 Neil Parkin scored from a five-metre scrum.

But West were always looking to run the ball and they were rewarded with two tries from winger Andrew Hare in the last 15 minutes.

The first came with Boro skipper Gavin Fingland in the sin-bin for handling on the deck, but they were back to full strength when, with only two minutes left, the ball was moved nicely along the line for Hare to score again.

Morpeth won 20-15 at home to Stockton after building a 15-0 lead with the wind behind them in the first half.

One of their two tries stemmed from their scrum domination, but Stockton came back after the break with fly half Jeremy Good using the wind well.

He landed a penalty then centre Mattie Oates followed up three crunching tackles by scoring in the corner.

At 15-8 winger Simon Crozier appeared to have scored near the posts, but the referee was unsighted and disallowed it.

This proved crucial as Morpeth scored again before Crozier raced through for a try converted by Good.

Horden's troubles since the devastating loss through injury of kicker Andrew Turner continued with a 38-0 defeat at Redcar.

The home tries came from Jamie Connolly, Liam Turner, Matt Hemingway, Mark Leat, Martyn Challenor and Mark Poulson, with Mark Patterson adding four conversions.