Darlington

Perhaps influenced by Jonny Wilkinson's kicking performances throughout the World Cup, Darlington captain Rory Clegg elected to kick for goal when awarded a penalty from just outside the 22 and secured the first three points of the match. Kicking was a much used option throughout the game, perhaps a little over used, but it was from a high kick down field off the back of a scrum that Matthew Lister had chased up from full back that gave Darlington their next score. The ball bouncing perfectly for the full back to collect on the Middlesborough ten metre line, there was however still much for him to do but he evaded several tackles to make it in to the corner. Darlington continued to control the game and keep the home side back in their half.

The forwards were mauling inside the 22 when scrum-half Josh Walden took an opportunity to go for the line himself when his backs outside him had pulled the Middlesborough defence to the left leaving him just enough room to get through unopposed. Clegg converted to take the score to 0-17.

Middlesborough responded early in the second half and brought the score back to 7-17. Darlington were under much more pressure in this half but had managed to press the home side back on to their try line. Middlesborough's attempted clearance made it into touch on the 22 but a quick thinking Josh Walden and retrieved the ball and took the quick throw to Rory Clegg who was unstoppable as he ran up the line to score.

Middlesborough came back once again and were pressing towards the Darlington line when David MacFall intercepted a pass under his own posts. He ran the ball back the whole length of the pitch to score under the posts and Clegg converted.

Middlesborough had more possession and territory in the second half and managed to add two tries before the final whistle. Middlesborough 19 Darlington 29.