Darlington suffered a rare home defeat when Cleckheaton were awarded a penalty try with six minutes left and the conversion from under the posts gave them a 22-20 win.

This was a big setback to Darlington's North One promotion hopes, especially as they did a good job of snuffing out former British Lion John Bentley, the visitors' player-coach.

They had no argument about the award of the penalty try as the ball had been hacked on and was over the line when Dave Haswell prevented a visiting winger from touching it down.

But bringing the conversion from wide out to under the posts made the difference between two evenly-matched sides after two tries by scrum half Rob Stewart had helped Darlington into a 20-15 lead.

With Bryan Dixon unavailable, Darlington switched Richard Snowball from lock to blind side, where he had an excellent game, while Paul Lee was outstanding in defence.

Home full back Kieron Thompson kicked two penalties either side of a converted try by a Cleckheaton winger, and Darlington were ahead at half-time after Martin Howe charged down a kick, recovered the ball and slipped it inside for Stewart to go under the posts.

A penalty and a try by their No 8 put Cleckheaton back in front, but after 51 minutes Darlington pressure took them into the 22, where Stewart dummied to the open side then stepped the other way and again went under the posts.

Thompson added his second conversion, but Darlington could not add to their tally and the decisive try came when an attack up the left broke down and the visitors kicked on.

When Thompson fell on the ball it squirted from his grasp and Cleckheaton hacked on again for the fateful score.

West Hartlepool suffered their fourth defeat from four games when they lost 29-8 at home to leaders Morley, for whom former Wales fly half Colin Stephens scored all the points.

He landed four first half penalties in reply to one by Jamie Connolly, and added three more before scoring a try in the 62nd minute. West skipper Connolly scored a try near the end.

Blaydon have only one win from five in National Three North, but they pushed leaders Nuneaton all the way before losing 13-8 at Crow Trees.

James Lofthouse kicked a penalty as Blaydon trailed 5-3 at half-time, but two minutes after the restart Nuneaton scored a breakaway try.

The Blaydon forwards drove over for a try, but sustained pressure brought no further reward and Nuneaton landed a penalty three minutes from time.

In North Two East Middlesbrough won 27-5 at home to bottom team Goole, with new centre Carl Burnett suggesting he may have the answer to their goal-kicking problems.

He landed a penalty after five minutes and converted two of the four tries from wide out as Boro took the game to their visitors for all but the last 15 minutes.

Hooker Richard Horton scored the first try from a line-out drive after 20 minutes, then a 70-metre run by Steve Wallis sent fly half Andy Micklewright over.

Just before half-time livewire scrum half Peter Wright scored in the corner for a 20-0 lead.

A good run and pass by lock Jason Malcolm provided the fourth try for prop Jason Littleton, while Goole earned a try for their late pressure.

Stockton defied rain and a strong, cold wind to win 14-10 at Alnwick. Fly half Simon Moore landed two penalties before George Robson broke through two tackles to score a converted try which gave the hosts a 7-6 interval lead.Moore's third penalty put Stockton back in front, then an excellent move involving backs and forwards was stopped just short before Alan Brown was driven over. Alnwick's only reply was a penalty ten minutes from time.

Two tight games saw Hartlepool Rovers cling on to their 100 per cent record in Durham and Northumberland Division One, while Hartlepool lost their's when they went down 30-27 at Ashington. Peter Iveson scored three tries for Hartlepool, who led 22-8, but an injury time try gave Ashington victory.

Rovers came back from 9-0 down to win 10-9 at home to West Hartlepool TDSOB, for whom James Masshedar kicked three penalties. Phil Hall landed a penalty for Rovers then kicked the winning conversion after Andrew Arnell broke 22 metres out and went under the posts.

Despite three penalties and two conversions from veteran Jon Bland, Durham City stay bottom after losing 24-23 at Acklam. Gavin Monkley, Simon Ward, Mick Doran and Paul Coxon gave Acklam a 4-2 win in the try stakes.

Consett kept their 100 per cent record in D and N division two with a 21-3 win at Barnard Castle, with 11 points coming from the boot of player-coach Mick Kent.

Northallerton remain bottom of Yorkshire Two after a 12-8 defeat at Leodiensians, where winger Rob Cramb scored a try and Brian Tucker kicked a penalty.