HORDEN tuned up for Saturday's trip to Lymm in the last 16 of the Powergen Intermediate Cup with a 22-13 home win against Stockton, writes Tim Wellock.

Their forwards adapted to the heavy conditions better than their bigger opponents and 17 points for fly half Andrew Turner means he is now well past 200 for the season.

Glen Bowman cried off with a lung infection, but Horden hope to have him fit for next week and chairman John Groves said: "It's a massive game for the club and the community and we have about 150 spectators going.

"We had them watched when they were well beaten by Vale of Lune."

Horden remain fourth in North Two East after coming back from an early deficit when flanker Brett Wildridge scored for Stockton.

Two penalties by Turner and one by Simon Moore kept Stockton in front, but then Turner made a break to score from 40 metres and just before half-time scrum half Andy Raine intercepted on halfway to race home.

That made it 16-8 at half-time and although Stockton's player-coach Alan Brown earned reward for a period of domination with a try from a line-out, his decision to take off Keith Etherington backfired as the line-out possession dried up. Turner made sure of victory with two penalties.

Stockton have now slipped into relegation trouble as they are only one point ahead of Scarborough, who remain second from the bottom, despite winning 14-13 at home to Redcar.

Redcar won the try-count 2-1 through hooker Martin Challenor and centre Gareth Foreman, playing his first game for a year, but Kiwi fly half Marcus Edwards kicked two drop goals and a penalty for Scarborough. Winger Ian Warwick scored their try.

Alnwick's 16-15 win at home to Hull took them level with Stockton, who they visit this week, while Westoe's 31-19 home win against Goole kept them ahead of Horden.

Flanker Graham Smith scored two of the five tries which had Westoe 31-0 up just after half-time before Goole fought back.

With Northern v Durham City a victim of the weather, Hartlepool Rovers narrowed the gap to one point at the top of Durham and Northumberland Division One with a 33-7 home win against Ryton.

Tries by scrum half Andrew Arnell and prop Stuart Langston, plus three penalties by Phil Hall, had Rovers 19-0 up at half-time. They added converted tries by Kevin McMorris and Stuart Ryder either side of a solo effort by Duncan Simpson for Ryton.

After several narrow defeats, Billingham raised their hopes of avoiding relegation when they won 12-9 at Acklam. Paul Woodhouse converted his own try and John Dunning also touched down, while Ian Bircham kicked three penalties for Acklam.