DARLINGTON Mowden Park admitted that Christmas had come early as they escaped from a scrappy game in the Tynedale mud with a 14-13 win.

Home flanker Grant Rastall appeared to have squeezed in for a try in the last minute, but the referee ruled that he had knocked on and Mowden hung on for their fifth successive win.

The plan to keep it tight and kick for the corners worked a treat for the first 20 minutes as Mowden built an 11-0 lead, but by the 65th minute Tynedale were 13-11 in front.

The winning kick, from wide on the right after a line-out offence, was slotted with ten minutes left by Dave Richardson, who had taken over when Mark Bedworth tore a hamstring after half an hour - an injury which could rule him out for several weeks.

Bedworth kicked two early penalties and Mowden had their hosts rattled when they picked up a ball little more than ten metres inside halfway and rolled a maul all the way to the line. Hooker Tasi Tuhana called the shots and No 8 Tom McLaren touched down.

Tynedale then began to run hard and straight in midfield, forcing Bedworth and centres Martyn Bray and Gareth Kerr to put in some excellent tackles.

But after Phil Belgian missed two penalties forward pressure resulted in a converted try for centre Paul Mooney just before half-time.

Ten minutes after the break Richard Arnold earned his fourth yellow card of the season for handling on the floor. But Mowden held out during his absence, thanks to a superb tackle by Jon Dye, who drove a Tynedale player backwards as he was about to touch down for a try.

Belgian then kicked two penalties to put Tynedale in front and missed another from long-range before Mowden finally got within range and both Iain Dixon and Richardson fluffed drop goal attempts. Richardson more than made amends with his penalty to consolidate fourth place.

Middlesbrough went clear in second place in North Two East with a 25-3 home win against Sandal as Morpeth lost 24-5 away to leaders Hull.

The wet conditions dictated play in the first half as Boro scored twice from rolling mauls through prop Dale Sawdon and hooker Richard Horton.

Full back Simon Moore added a penalty and a conversion for a 15-3 half-time lead, and when the chance finally arose to move the ball out winger Andy Micklewright scored.

Just before the end scrum half Peter Wright scored from close range following a forward drive.

Stockton eased their relegation worries with a 20-19 win at York, moving two points clear of their hosts in fourth from bottom place.

Stockton barely had the ball for 35 minutes and trailed 13-0, but they suddenly drove York from their own half to within 15 metres of the line and scrum half Nicky Poole sold a lovely dummy to go over. Jeremy Good converted and quickly added a penalty to reduce the gap to three points at half-time.

York's Ben Quick kicked his third penalty, then Stockton hooker Danny Muirhead was driven over from a line-out. But York dominated again and kicked another penalty with two minutes left.

From the restart they cleared to touch, but the Stockton forwards drove on from the line-out and when the ball was moved out winger Simon Crozier romped over for the winning score.

Redcar also won the try-count 3-1 at home to Bridlington, but lost 16-15 to stay in mid-table alongside Horden, whose slide continued with a 29-23 defeat at home to Westoe.

Scrum half Andy Raine charged down a kick to score the opening try for Horden and they were still ahead after a first half which produced two tries each.

But Westoe were on top after the break, adding two more tries before winger Paul Hagan made sure with a penalty.

West Hartlepool moved a point ahead of Redcar and Horden with a 7-7 draw away to bottom club Northern, who scored a converted try 14 minutes from time.

West had led from the second minute when fly half Phil Wallis made a good break and teenage full back Martin Todd scored a try converted by Dave Tighe.

West fielded a young side, and lost two of their experienced campaigners when outstanding hooker Brett Cullinane was sin-binned after 34 minutes and flanker Henry Tones suffered a shoulder injury.

Phil Butler went on for Cullinane and stayed on to complete a promising debut, as did open side Greg Edwards.

West couldn't add to their score in the atrocious conditions and Northern winger Phil Butler scored on the blind side to finish off their only attack of the second half. Matthew Jinks added an excellent conversion and a late penalty attempt by Tighe fell just short.

Northallerton crashed out of the Powergen Junior Vase when they were ordered to play their delayed fourth round tie at home to Sheffield Tigers and lost 15-10.

After they were left without a referee the previous week, Northallerton hoped the match would be rearranged for next Saturday. But that didn't suit the Tigers.