Darlington taste reality of life at higher level

Following Mowden's hat-trick, Darlington have won it for the last two years, but were overpowered 32-0 in this year's delayed first round tie at Yiewsley Drive.

There was no talk of amalgamation with their neighbours when Mowden held a meeting last week which was open to members and attended by Newcastle Falcons owner David Thompson.

Instead Mowden are moving towards strengthening their links with the Falcons, who are likely to send more of their academy players down for tough match experience.

Mowden rested four of their forwards for Saturday's semi-final at home to Stockton and were still able to win 36-5.

The Stockton pack matched them for much of a scrappy game spoilt by a bitter crosswind plus a lot of offside which went unpunished.

As Paino Kelekolio was among those rested, Mowden drafted in local lad Luke Monument, who has been furthering his rugby education with the Rotherham Academy while studying at Sheffield University.

Winger Matt Howland, scorer of two tries against Darlington, is doubtful for the final after suffering a knee injury shortly after scoring the try which gave Mowden a 17-0 half-time lead against Stockton.

Early tries by Mark Bedworth and centre Jonno Wilson seemed to signal a rout, but Stockton kept it tight and matched their hosts up front.

Their defence was caught out on the half hour when Mowden ran from just inside their own half and Howland went under the posts.

After 54 minutes good work by the forwards was finished off by hooker Tasi Tuhana, then player-coach Alan Brown touched down for Stockton after a catch-and-drive.

But Mowden replied instantly with the best move of the match. The back row were involved before Tuhana dummied past an opponent and sent winger James Tyrrell over.

With Stockton fading, centre Chris Strong burst through poor tackling for the final try, Bedworth adding his third conversion.

Darlington were left to ponder the harsh realities of national league rugby after their defeat at Mowden, where the physical intensity of the combat was much greater than in North One.

Darlington achieved their season's main ambition of joining Mowden in National Three North, but now know how much they need to strengthen in order to stay there.

With arguments raging about whether the town can sustain two clubs at national level, more than 1,000 supporters turned up to see what sort of spectacle would be provided.

Given the strength of their forwards, Mowden had planned to win the battle up front and, while the shuddering hits made it an absorbing game, flowing entertainment was rarely on the agenda.

In North One this season, Darlington have had to put up with a lot of niggle from teams jealous of their skills. But they will find less of that at the higher level, partly because the officiating is better from the referee and touch judges.

Mowden's muscle enabled them to win the physical battle without any recourse to nastiness and two of the three yellow cards went to Darlington players.

With the tackles coming in much faster and harder than they are used to, Darlington were not allowed to develop their normal free-flowing style. In 22 league games they scored 824 points, but they rarely looked like breaking down their neighbours' defence.

With two Tongans already in their pack, Mowden sent on a third seven minutes after half-time in Soa Otuvaka, who had made one previous appearance for them against Blaydon after being signed on loan from Newcastle Falcons.

The match was refereed by former Durham County captain Steve Havery, whose rise through the ranks has been even more rapid than that of the two clubs. He will join them in Three North next season and handled a difficult task commendably, although the first of the yellow cards he brandished might have been a little harsh.

Kelekolio was already on his way down when Rob Stewart hit him round the neck, but there could be little argument about the other two.

Mowden full back Iain Dixon was sin-binned for use of the elbow and Darlington's fired-up player-coach Craig Lee was handed ten minutes in the cooler for a high tackle.

Darlington made two early attempts to put Paul Beattie away, hoping to find some spark from the winger who has scored 28 tries this season.

But he looked as though he couldn't get rid of the ball quickly enough and the club will now be wondering if they can take him up to the higher level as his deficiencies were glaringly exposed.

Darlington were already 32-0 down and staring a bigger defeat in the face when they sent on David Andrew with ten minutes left, switching Stewart to the wing. Andrew made an instant difference, suggesting that his experience should have been called on earlier.

For Mowden, prop Danny Brown epitomised their forward power, but the youngsters in Darlington's front row, plus lock Richard Snowball, never buckled and with age on their side they can certainly flourish next season.

They will look for an experienced lock to partner Snowball, plus some back row reinforcements, and might try to entice David Glendenning back from Gateshead.

The fact that Darlington asked full back Kieron Thompson to have two shots at goal late in the first half suggested they were already resigned to not scoring tries. The first was at the very limit of his range and the second was beyond it.

Two penalties by Mark Bedworth and a 22nd minute try by winger James Tyrrell had Mowden 13-0 up at half-time.

Howland scored the next two tries and finally Dixon side-stepped two tackles from 30 metres out to score under the posts, Bedworth adding his third conversion.

With Andrew's help it was to Darlington's credit that they battled valiantly to the end, but their unavailable flanker Martin Howe was badly missed.