BOTH Darlington clubs have home matches tomorrow as they continue to make inroads into the fixture backlog following last Saturday's victories.
Mowden Park's casualty list grew with injuries to both wingers in the 29-21 win at Driffield and they are hoping at least one will be fit for the visit of Wigton.
Not that the Cumbrians should pose too much of a threat as they lost 11-0 at home to Middlesbrough last week to drop to third bottom in North Division One.
Mowden did not narrow the gap on leaders Blaydon as the Tynesiders also won a rearranged match, but Mowden should go to the top tomorrow week, when they have arranged to visit Stockton.
Darlington entertain Alnwick tomorrow and expect a rather tougher time than in last week's 96-7 home win against York, who have lost all 11 matches in North Two East.
Darlington scored after 32 seconds and would have passed three figures comfortably had they moved the ball wide more often. Although winger Paul Beattie scored four tries he usually had to come in-field looking for the ball.
Paul Lee hopes to be back at fly half in February following an eye problem which at one stage threatened his future in the game, meanwhile the sturdy midfield of Craig Lee, Mark Butler and Simon White prefer the more direct route rather than whipping the ball out to the wings.
The chance to reach 100 points went begging at the death when Rob Stewart, a second half replacement for David Andrew, sprinted away up the right touchline and passed inside to Marc Potts, who would have had a clear run to the line had he not dropped the ball.
Darlington scored 16 tries, with David Glendenning converting seven and Potts one from four attempts.
Among those who particularly revelled in the freedom were back row trio Martin Howe, Del Lewis and Bryan Dixon, while Butler often shed tacklers like autumn leaves.
He had a simple run-in, however, for the first minute try following simple handling and five more tries swiftly followed to make it 38-0 after 23 minutes.
Andrew burrowed over from close range, then Howe scored twice, appearing at centre for his second try, while Beattie's first two followed bursts down the middle by Glendenning.
York were allowed into the game for 15 minutes and scored a try throug h their lively scrum half James Arkle after Darlington took a quick line-out and threw the ball straight to the opposition.
But they were rarely out of their own half again as the floodgates reopened just before half-time with a try in the right corner by Potts to make the interval score 43-7.
Glendenning was keen to get into the action from full back after half-time, scoring two tries, as did No 8 Lewis.
Others to get on the scoresheet were Lee, Dixon and 18-year-old prop Miller, who charged over from a tap penalty ten yards out.
Stewart's pace made him a constant threat and his departure next month to play in New Zealand will at least spare Darlington the difficulty of choosing between him and Andrew.
Mowden's new winger Steve Jones scored an excellent try at Driffield, beating the full back on a run from halfway, but he had to be replaced as he suffered a back injury.
The other winger, Chris Mattison, developed a calf problem but had to stay on. It is hoped Jones will be fit for tomorrow as Matt Howland is still out with his dislocated shoulder and Scott Thompson needed micro-surgery to repair a serious arm injury following an accident in Newcastle.
Although it was a tough game, Mowden were always comfortable and could have gone 31-11 ahead had a pass from Kevan Oliphant to Mattison not been intercepted. The opposing winger ran the length of the field to score and the gap came down to 24-21 before Mowden scored a late try.
Mick Kent did well at centre, supplying t he scoring pass for Darren McKinnon and Mattison to touch down and he also went under the posts from a scrum five metres out. Oliphant converted three and added a penalty
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