WEST Hartlepool have done it again. After their shock win against Chester last week, they sprang an even bigger surprise by beating North Division One leaders Cleckheaton on Saturday.

The scores were level with two minutes of normal time left when West were awarded a penalty try and John Stabler's conversion gave them a 24-17 victory.

While it gives West real hope of escaping the bottom two, it also opens the door for Darlington to finish top and gain automatic promotion.

After winning 42-0 at West then 50-15 at home to West Park St Helens they continued to look unstoppable by reaching another half-century at home to Driffield.

West are now only one point behind Huddersfield, who they visit for what could prove a decisive last match on April 12, although there is a lingering fear that three will go down. While Cleckheaton have begun to creak recently, they did not expect to lose to a side who had won only one league game this season prior to beating Chester.

The visitors were not happy with the referee, but he had just given three penalties in quick succession against them before the decisive try and their backs failed to heed the warning that if they strayed offside again he would award a penalty try. Nor did they help themselves by having a flanker sin-binned after eight minutes for stamping and a centre sent off in the second half for punching.

West led 10-3 at half-time, then fell 17-10 behind. But whereas in the past they would have crumbled, their new-found confidence saw them fight back superbly through their dominant forwards.

Back row man Tim Sawyer reached out and just managed to get the ball to the line as he was tackled in the 67th minute, with Stabler's conversion from wide out levelling the scores.

John Bentley threatened to break out three times for Cleckheaton, but each time Jamie Connolly cut him down to cap another fine display, which also brought him the first try. He went under the posts after Allan Milne made a half break and found his fellow centre with a good pass.

Stabler converted and added a 38th minute drop goal, but when West were penalised on the restart backchat cost them ten metres and Cleckheaton kicked the penalty.

West were still on top after the break, but a breakaway try levelled the scores. Then the visiting hooker was driven over for another converted try. But West dug deep for a precious win and will hope for a hat-trick at West Park St Helens.

Darlington beat Driffield 52-14 and are now two points behind Cleckheaton with a game in hand and a much superior points difference. For the third successive week Mark Butler scored two tries, while also setting up two others, and fellow winger Paul Beattie crossed twice, as did David Andrew.

The first came after five minutes when Bryan Dixon drove on after Richard Snowball secured line-out possession and Andrew nipped over.

Then Butler went in after the other backs opened up the visitors' defence with quick handling.

Driffield then scored totally against the run of play when the ball bounced kindly after they charged down an Andrew kick.

Quickly back on top, Darlington used line-out ball to wrong-foot Driffield with decoy runners before Butler powered home.

The second of Thompson's six conversions made it 19-7 after half an hour. But he then dropped a pass well inside the Driffield 22 and the visitors seized the ball and three backs combined to run the length of the pitch to score.

The tables were quickly turned when Butler intercepted a loose pass and ran 30 metres before off-loading for lock Matt Dilworth to score. Butler again quickly found himself in possession, making ground from the halfway line to the 22, where Andrew followed up to grab his second try.

With the wind favouring Darlington a feast of tries was anticipated after the break. But they eased off and Driffield were on top for 20 minutes, during which Rob Stewart replaced Andrew and Phil Lancaster went on for Dan Miller, who was suffering from cramp.

The match had drifted into a succession of errors until Stewart made a dazzling run down the right wing and this seemed to fire up Darlington with Beattie scoring his two tries in typical fashion.

Snowball also scored in the closing minutes, running in from 25 metres after Craig Lee and Butler made ground.

In the Durham Cup Stockton won 39-18 at home to Durham City but were then drawn away in the semi-final to Darlington Mowden Park or Darlington, who will play their delayed tie on the first or second Wednesday of April. Blaydon are at home to Westoe in the other semi.

Centre Steve Thornton had an excellent game for Stockton, making a break for the first of two tries which winger Simon Crozier finished with darting runs.

Wayne Brown also finished off a forward drive for a 17-6 half-time lead after Nick Howe kicked two penalties for City.

Brown crossed again on the resumption, then his brother Alan scored an individual try, with Simon Moore adding his second conversion.

City came back with a try from centre Mark Veide, converted by Howe, before Stockton scrum half Peter Armstrong nipped through a blind side gap to score. Winger Pedro Salahshouri got in on the act before Andy Openshaw scored for City at the death.

Ryton earned a surprise 26-25 win at home to Hartlepool Rovers in the Durham Intermediate Cup and will now visit Winlaton or Hartlepool in the semi-final.

In the other semi Gateshead will be at home to Consett or Billingham after winning 27-18 at West Hartlepool TDSOB.