Mowden still out of luck

A home game against Preston Grasshoppers this week gives them the chance to halt a run of six defeats in National Three North.

The front row were excellent, but hooker Danny Brown was sent off after 60 minutes for retaliation after being butted. His assailant, a lock who had been on for only four minutes, was also dismissed.

Locks Ian Robinson and Kelekolia Paino also did well, but apart from two tries by winger Chris Mattison there was again a lack of spark in the backs.

A penalty by Mark Bedworth gave Mowden an early lead after Robinson won a line-out on Waterloo's throw, but calamity struck after ten minutes when Iain Dixon tried to lay the ball off to Mattison 40 metres out and a Waterloo player intercepted to score under the posts.

Mattison's first try stemmed from good line-out possession, the ball being moved out to the winger, who kicked over his marker and touched down in the corner.

A penalty put Waterloo 10-8 ahead at half-time and after Paino dropped the restart the home scrum half sold a big dummy and went under the posts.

Bedworth kicked his second penalty, but it was scant reward for a long period of pressure and Waterloo replied with a penalty after 65 minutes.

There were only seven minutes left when Mowden capped another good session of play by moving the ball out for Mattison to score.

Bedworth's conversion attempt hit the bar, and Mowden couldn't capitalise on a series five-metre scrums in the last few minutes.

Their back row problems continued as they lost No 8 Jon Dye with a leg injury while flanker Jonny Boatman had four stitches in a head wound.

Blaydon slipped to fifth bottom, but remain four points ahead of Mowden, when they lost 32-10 away to leaders Nuneaton.

Australian centre Nathan Ridd marked his debut by brushing off three tackles to score as Blaydon reduced a 20-0 half-time deficit to 20-10, with Colin Duncan adding a conversion and a penalty.

They were well on top at that stage but dropped passes cost them dear and Nuneaton came back with two late tries.

Tynedale suffered a rare home defeat when they lost 29-18 to Halifax after leading 15-0 ten minutes into the second half.

Halifax went 17-15 ahead before a drop goal by Alan Moses put Tynedale back in front with seven minutes left. But the visitors scored two more tries.

Three penalties by David Tighe gave West Hartlepool a 9-6 interval lead at home to Macclesfield in North One, but they lost 25-9.

In North Two East Middlesbrough won 32-10 at home to Alnwick, despite not having a recognised goal-kicker.

Mark Featherstone converted the first try from wide out and landed a penalty just before half-time to make it 15-10, but he converted only one of the other four tries.

Winger Tom Bivens scored the first after Alnwick had dominated the opening exchanges. Flanker Gavin Fingland touched down twice from driving mauls, Danny Poole finished off a good passing move and Featherstone cut through in the centre for the final score as Boro dominated the second half.

Horden came back from 8-6 down at Goole to win 28-11 with tries by No 8 John Paul, full back Paul Bruce and scrum half Andrew Raine, with Andrew Turner adding to the goal points.

Redcar No 8 Richie Barker scored the only try of the game in a 6-5 home defeat by Morpeth, while Stockton lost 37-10 at home to leaders Bradford and Bingley.

Stockton were level at 10-10 after a penalty by Simon Moore and a try by Brendan Thornton, converted by Graham Kell while Moore was off with a bloodied nose. But they lost Mark Skirving to the sin-bin and Richie Challenor and Alan Brown through injury.

There are now four teams on 12 points at the top of Durham and Northumberland One, including Ashington after their 27-21 win at home to leaders Hartlepool Rovers.

Rovers led 15-0 after 20 minutes following tries by Paul Arnell, Ian Drummond and Michael Walton and Arnell added two penalties to make it 21-8 until a penalty try turned the tide just before half-time.