Darlington Mowden Park are waiting anxiously to see whether they will have two points deducted for allegedly fielding a player who was not properly registered.

The player in question is Durham University centre Ollie Phillips, who made his debut a week last Saturday in the win against Nuneaton.

Although Mowden had got the necessary signatures from the university and registered Phillips a fortnight earlier, they have been told they failed to inform his other club, Hove.

As Hove play in London Four South-East and Phillips is in the England Under 21 squad it seems highly unlikely that he would play for them in the future and he had not told Mowden that he was registered with them.

As things stand, the loss of two points would not affect Mowden's position in National Three North as their 36-19 win at Sandal put them five points clear of sixth-placed Blaydon, who lost 23-3 at Liverpool St Helens.

But Mowden are still keen to finish fourth and with three games left are only one point behind New Brighton.

Mowden shrugged off the early loss of another student, Teesside University scrum half Richard Holborough, to score six tries at Sandal, confirming that the Wakefield club will be relegated with West Hartlepool.

Holborough lost two teeth when he was accidentally kicked in the mouth, forcing winger Chris Mattison to switch to scrum half.

Three of Mowden's tries came from line-out possession won by former Durham Colt Richard Mangles, who was making his first start after two years out of the game.

There was also another good display at full back from Mark Bedworth, who scored both second half tries and landed three conversions.

After choosing to play downhill with the wind, Mowden went ahead in the second minute when centre Mark Wilkinson cut through to score.

Sandal scored a try against the run of play and Mowden needed three tries in the last ten minutes of the first half to make their superiority count.

Mangles won a line-out 15 metres out and centre Mick Kent barged through to score, then more pressure brought a try in the corner for winger Steve Jones. On the stroke of half-time hooker Danny Brown drove over after another line-out take by Mangles.

Ten minutes into the second half Kent was sin-binned for handling on the floor and Sandal kicked the penalty to the corner and drove over from the line-out.

When they scored again from a rolling maul the gap was down to 24-19, but with five minutes left a clean catch by Mangles saw the ball go through four pairs of hands before Bedworth hit the line at pace to score.

He then fielded a Sandal kick on halfway and ran straight through for his second try.

Blaydon led through a James Lofthouse penalty at Liverpool, but failed to break down the strong home defence, despite dominating first half possession.

Wingers James Tyrrell and Iain Dixon went close, but Lofthouse missed three penalties and Blaydon trailed 10-3 at half-time before turning round to face the wind and rain.

West Hartlepool also led at Morley, going 12-3 up after 15 minutes before sliding to a 48-12 defeat which confirmed they will be in North One next season.

That means they will have to qualify for the Powergen Cup through the Durham Cup, in which they visit Consett on April 2 followed by a trip to Darlington the following Tuesday if they win.

Centres Phil Cuff and Allan Milne scored West's tries at Morley, with Michael Walton adding a conversion, only for the hosts to run in four of their seven tries before half-time.

Middlesbrough felt Hull Ionians were the best team they have faced this season as they went 39-0 down at half-time on the way to a 51-10 defeat on Humberside, which leaves them needing a miracle to survive in North One.

Hooker Richard Horton had to play at prop and centre Ben Roach at scrum half, and although both did well Boro barely touched the ball in the first 20 minutes.

Back row man Ben Pattinson joined the casualties before the game, and full back Mark Foster pulled a hamstring after two minutes.

Boro competed well in the second half and scored tries through fly half Andy Dean and lock Ian Robinson.

In North Two East Stockton helped to give Northern a lifeline when they lost 24-3 at McCracken Park, allowing last season's relegation companions to climb into third bottom spot.

Stockton found themselves without a scrum half and had to play Joff Staples there.

They were 11-0 down at half-time, then Dave Turner kicked a penalty but there was no further reward for sustained pressure and a breakaway try ended their resistance.

Westoe moved above visitors Redcar into fourth place with a 24-5 win in a hard-fought battle. Full back Craig Stephenson scored all but five of Westoe's points with four penalties, a try and a conversion.

Mark Poulson scored for Redcar, who trailed only 6-5 at half-time.

Horden's match at home to Ashington on April 6 looks likely to decide the Durham and Northumberland Division One title.

Durham City's 24-15 win at home to Percy Park means the top two cannot be caught after Horden won 26-3 at Winlaton and Ashington 26-16 at home to Ryton.

Acklam are assured of promotion from division two after scoring nine tries in a 53-10 win at Rockcliff