THE quality of refereeing at North One level was again the main talking point as Darlington mysteriously had three players sin-binned during a game of little passion.

The only time a scuffle threatened to break out Marcus Anderson of the Manchester Society ignored it, and it was also strange that he dished out no yellow cards to Aspatria.

At the restart following the final try they went unpunished for taking out a player in mid-air.

Craig Lee was the first in the sin-bin after 15 minutes, apparently for trying to pull down a maul. Ten minutes later he exchanged places with a justifiably mystified David Andrew, who was adjudged to have kneed an opponent when Darlington were driving a maul to the line.

As they were only a few metres short and looking certain to score, it was unthinkable that such an experienced player would risk jeopardising the try with his team only 5-3 ahead.

After 53 minutes it was Bryan Dixon's turn for shoving an opponent out of the way. As he also received two yellow cards for minor indiscretions against West Hartlepool he must be thinking of taking up tiddlywinks.

Dixon was outstanding in the first half, as was Richard Snowball, who made vital tackles as well as dominating the line-out.

There was also an eye-catching performance from centre Dave Haswell, but Darlington missed injured flanker Martin Howe and will hope to have him back for Saturday's big test away to second-placed Macclesfield.

They also hope to have Paul Radford available as the hard-working David Inman will be missing for the next few weeks because of exams.

It remained 5-3 at half-time, largely because Darlington failed to capitalise on a bright start then had to play for 20 minutes with 14 men.

Full back Kieron Thompson scored the try after ten minutes after Dixon drove off the back of a scrum and Phil Lancaster took the ball on before it was moved back to the short side with Thompson in the line.

Darlington should have scored again when Haswell broke from deep in his own half and exchanged passes with Frankie Coulson before failing to find Paul Heslop with what should have been the scoring pass.

Haswell was again involved just before the first of two Thompson penalties stretched the lead prior to Dixon's yellow card.

Apart from struggling at the scrums, Darlington coped comfortably with 14 men as their defence was always solid.

They scored again after 66 minutes when Paul Lee broke up the left touchline and his lobbed inside pass fell nicely for the ball to be swept right, with Thompson sending Coulson over.

Steve Stoddart's second penalty for Aspatria made it 16-6 but Thompson replied with his third and in injury time replacement centre Tosh McIntee made a powerful break which led to a try for Heslop.

Result: Darlington 26 Aspatria 6.