Darlington Mowden Park's player-coach Kevan Oliphant admitted he would have a tough decision to make this week after sitting out Saturday's 33-6 win at Whitchurch.

With home games against Blaydon, Tynedale and Doncaster in the next three weeks, Oliphant said: "If it was purely down to me I'd probably stay on the bench next week.

"Jonny Golightly made the difference in the last ten minutes with two or three breaks and he deserves another chance at fly half.

"Mark Wilkinson will take time to settle but his defence was very solid and he has a great pass and good attitude. And having Mark Bedworth back made a lot of difference."

Bedworth took over the goal-kicking and although he converted only one of the five tries he touched down twice and added two penalties for a personal tally of 18 points.

Oliphant felt the first 60 minutes were a non-event because of a fussy referee, but added: "When he finally eased up on the whistle we really put some good moves together.

"And our all-round defence was much better than in the last two weeks.

"Billy McKinnon was as good as ever and Tony Irwin is improving as he gets fitter. The Doncaster match could be pivotal, so we musn't lose again before then."

Mowden applied pressure at the start of both halves, which was rewarded by Bedworth penalties. But their only first half try came in the left corner from Mick Kent, putting them 8-0 up, which was reduced to 8-6 at the interval.

Golightly split the home defence to send Bedworth over after 45 minutes and at 16-6 with 20 minutes left Kent handed off an opponent to go under the posts. Then Golightly's pace took him through a gap to score and another good backs move led to Bedworth's second try.

Mowden remain last of the breakaway quartet at the top, four points ahead of fifth-placed Blaydon, who lost 29-10 at home to Doncaster. Despite defending bravely, Blaydon were forced into conceding penalties and former Leicester full back John Liley kicked five as well as converting both tries.

Centre Vinnie Bell scored an interception try, converted by James Lofthouse, to put Blaydon 7-6 ahead. But it became 19-7 before Lofthouse landed a penalty and Doncaster then forged further ahead.

Tynedale's spirited performance away to leaders Dudley Kingswinford crumbled when injuries took their toll and they conceded three tries in the last five minutes to lose 38-15 after being level at half-time.

West Hartlepool remain bottom after a 45-28 defeat at Scunthorpe. Two well-struck penalties by Michael Walton put West 6-0 up, but despite an excellent try from Gareth Kerr they trailed 18-11 at the interval.

It became 33-11 before Walton converted tries by Jamie Connolly and Mark Thompson to cut the gap to five points. But the fightback was ended by two more Scunthorpe tries.

Darlington suffered another narrow away defeat in North One. As at Macclesfield they dominated the last ten minutes but couldn't score and lost 24-21 at Chester.

While Darlington scored three very good tries through their backs, Chester twice drove over after kicking penalties to touch.

It was 7-6 to Chester at half-time, David Glendenning having kicked two penalties, and Darlington went ahead when they gained good ground through pick-and-drives then moved the ball right and left for winger Ben Usher to go in from 15 metres.

But they were unlucky when they ran a mark from their own 22 and were adjudged to have given a forward pass, giving Chester the platform to break through and score.

Darlington came straight back with more forward driving and winger Frankie Coulson made a half break before flipping the ball inside for Craig Lee to beat a man and score. A penalty put Chester one point in front before they rolled over from a line-out and added the conversion.

Darlington sent on Simon White for Leigh Johnson and with his first touch he scored on the left wing, but the visitors just couldn't force home their advantage.

There was also disappointment for Middlesbrough, who led 31-17 with 25 minutes left at Driffield but then went off the boil and conceded three converted tries to lose 38-31.

With Rob Green pulling out, Jon Wrigley switched back to scrum half, with Ian Wilson at fly half, and after early forward pressure led to a penalty try Wrigley nipped over from the back of a maul.

Prop Chris Horton scored from close range and Mark Foster's third conversion made it 21-7.

Driffield scored just before half-time but straight from the restart Wilson weaved through their defence for a 26-14 interval lead.

Things got even better as winger Danny Poole followed up a kick ahead to score. But the Driffield full back came into the line to score two of their three late tries and ended with a tally of 23 points