Darlington Mowden Park were able to test their recent good form, at home to Hartlepool this week. In recent years this has always been a very hard fought, close contest.

After only four minutes Mowden won clean possession from a ruck, just outside Hartlepool's 22 metre line. This was moved quickly to the right wing, with two missed moves, for Jason Elliot to run in the first try.

Hartlepool's fly-half made some positive breaks, however, Mowden closed down their back-line and continued to keep them in their own half with some tactical kicking. From a five metre scrum Ross Batty broke from the base and linked with Jason Todd, who scored to make it 10-0 at half-time.

Hartlepool started positively in the second half and some poor tackling from Mowden allowed them to break down the blind side from a ruck and score in the corner. This seemed to spur-on Mowden and after 15 minutes Ross Batty took a quick penalty, just inside Hartlepool's half, and ran through their defence, chipped the full-back and Chris Dodd was first to ground it in the in-goal area.

Mowden continued to spread the ball and Sean Williams attacked the blind side of a ruck and released Ross Batty, who ran in between the posts, converted by Chris Dodd. This closed the game with a win for Mowden 22-5.

Darlington Ladies

Despite having all the early possession and spending long periods in the Northallerton half during Darlington's 17-5 win, Darlington were unable to convert their pressure to points early on.

By the half-time whistle the home side was one try to nothing ahead. This came about following two missed tackles and a strong run for a break away try that was against the run of play.

In a show of character, the Darlington heads did not go down and they came out and played just as strongly in the second half.

The breakthrough came when one of the Northallerton front row put in a kick at halfway which went across the pitch. Young wing Sam brown, in only her second game, picked the ball up on the run, side stepped her opposition winger and ran in for her second try in two games. This score was unconverted.

Darlington then increased the pressure and their second try was scored by lock Alison (Dinger) Doherty. She managed to force her way between two would-be defenders from close to the Northallerton line and grounded the ball near the posts. This score came from a maul following a penalty in the Northallerton 22. The conversion scored, Darlington took the lead at 12-5.

The final Darlington score came from a set piece near halfway. The ball was transported quickly along the backs with Stacey Walker and debutante Halina Clare both looping to create room for wing Jinny Sowerby to run in her first try, scoring in the corner.

Player of the Match, chosen by Northallerton, went to captain and scrum half Helen Large for the disruption she managed to cause in the Northallerton backs.

l Eight players from Darlington Rugby Club Under-14s have just been selected to play Durham County. This is a great honour for these boys and I thought it would be good to get their photos in the Darlington and Stockton or Northern Echo