TWO tries by prop Ian Keeligan were among the rare highlights as Darlington Mowden Park eased to a 27-15 win at West Hartlepool on Saturday.

Several Newcastle Falcons players, including Jonny Wilkinson, were in the crowd, but the game was a disappointment with a lot of off-the-ball incidents.

Pressed into service by the lack of bodies which has plagued him for three years, West coach John Stabler kicked four penalties to give his side a 12-10 interval lead.

But they failed to capitalise on ten minutes of pressure after the break and had to settle for a fifth Stabler penalty, with Mowden winning the try count 4-0.

Proof that Mowden's game is still evolving came from Keeligan, rarely spotted in open play, appearing on the wing and at centre to burst through for his tries.

There was also a good performance in the back row from Tim Wilks, while Richard Mangles stole a lot of West's line-out ball and fly half Kevan Oliphant continued his good form against his former club.

Fired up for revenge after their agonising one-point defeat at Mowden, West hoped to catch the visitors cold.

But Mowden were fully prepared and went ahead after five minutes from a ruck 30 metres out. The half backs used clean ball to set up Mick Kent and when the ball was moved out again Keeligan brushed past two tackles to score in the corner.

With the West forwards putting themselves about, Stabler landed a penalty for offside, but after 25 minutes Mowden's tactic of using Kent on the burst brought further reward.

Oliphant dummied to the other centre, Chris Strong, before feeding Kent, who carried two men over the line to score.

Then came three Stabler penalties in the last ten minutes of the half, with Kent being sin-binned for killing the ball prior to the last one.

Mowden found themselves under pressure until Kent returned, but they defended well and started to get on top when West were offside in the back row and Mark Bedworth landed a well-struck penalty.

There was only one point in it until Keeligan popped up again after 60 minutes to finish off a good move and Bedworth added a good conversion, meaning West would have to score twice.

They were awarded a penalty five minutes later and after considering a kick to the corner Stabler went for goal to make it 20-15.

Both teams had a forward sin-binned following a line-out flare-up, then Mowden sent on Del Russell, Mark Wilkinson and Danny Brown, who took over from impressive hooker Matt Hall.

With ten minutes left Russell scored from a line-out drive and Bedworth again converted.

With two games left in National Three North, Blaydon cannot catch Mowden after losing 31-21 at home to Tynedale, who moved above them into sixth place.

There was little sign of derby passion, and with a try count of 3-3 it was Blaydon's higher number of errors and the boot of Phil Belgian which proved decisive.

The Tynedale fly half landed two penalties and a 40-metre drop goal to put his side 9-0 ahead, and later added a third penalty and two conversions.

Scrum half Andy Foreman seized a loose ball to score his 17th try of the season for Blaydon, converted by James Lofthouse, but 9-7 was as close as they got.

Tynedale full back Alan Moses set up a try for winger Andy Roberts, then there was a further exchange of tries just before half-time.

A line-out drive saw skipper Dave Guthrie touch down for Blaydon, but then they lost possession on their own 22 and flanker Grant Rastall touched down to put Tynedale 26-14 ahead.

A try by winger Mark Lytollis made it 31-14 and there were only ten minutes left when Iain Dixon scored in the corner for Blaydon and Lofthouse converted.

Northern's battle against a second successive relegation will go to the wire after a 33-12 win at Old Crossleyans, the team just below them in North Two East.

West Hartlepool TDSOB eased their relegation worries in Durham and Northumberland Division One with a 17-15 win at home to Durham City. This left Consett next to the bottom.

In division two, promoted Acklam continued to look unstoppable with an 85-3 home win against Sunderland. Fly half Ian Bircham's 28 points took him to 390, ten short of the club record.

Northallerton could only draw 12-12 at home to West Leeds, who are next to the bottom of Yorkshire Two. Karl Elliott and Russ Haywood scored tries for North', with Ed Bulman adding a conversion