BOTH Darlington clubs have some big games coming up as they continue to go from strength to strength.

Darlington entertain promotion rivals Halifax tomorrow and Huddersfield next Saturday, while Mowden Park also stage a top-of-the-table clash tomorrow against Chester before entertaining North Walsham in the third round of the Tetley's Bitter Cup the following week.

North Walsham are a Norfolk club who play in National Division Three South, so there is every chance that Mowden will again be in the hat with the top clubs for the fourth round draw.

Mowden won their second round tie 21-3 at home to West Park (St Helens), while Darlington earned the admiration of their hosts in losing 28-17 at Wharfedale.

As West Hartlepool lost a National Division Two game 51-14 at Wharfedale last month, last Saturday's score proved how far Darlington has now moved ahead of Hartlepool as a rugby town.

In fine conditions on the lush Grassington pitch, Darlington tackled with great determination against a side three divisions above them. But they showed their hosts too much respect early on and trailed 11-0 after 22 minutes following two penalties by former England fly half David Pears and a try from a rolling maul.

Pears, who flies up from London to play for Wharfedale, was very much the pivot of a fast, powerful side.

Darlington came back with No 8 Del Lewis blasting through three tackles and nearly scored from a move involving brothers Craig and Paul Lee and full back David Glendenning.

They retained possession and moved the ball left only to be stopped just short by a last-ditch tackle. But Wharfedale killed the ball and from the free-kick Craig Lee's long pass sent Mark Butler over.

Kieron Thompson converted, but Pears' third penalty widened the gap and Darlington made their one defensive error when the home full back was allowed to exploit a big gap for a converted try which made it 21-7 at half-time.

Darlington sent on Simon White for Thompson, Brian Baldwin for hooker Rob Goddard amd John Whitehouse for Bryan Dixon.

Glendenning took over the kicking and landed a penalty, but Wharfedale's No 8 was able to pick up and score from a scrum on the line.

Darlington sent on Robbie Stewart for David Andrew at scrum half and he made two breaks before taking the ball from a maul and diving over. The conversion completed the scoring, but Darlington were applying more pressure at the end.

Darlington seconds beat Kirkby Lonsdale 74-7, despite being weakened by being able to send seven substitutes to Wharfedale.

They even leant a player to the hosts, who lost a prop with a broken ankle and did not have a suitable replacement.

Winger Marc Potts scored four of the 12 tries and landed seven conversions, while Darren Samanjoule capped an excellent display at No 8 by touching down.

The other tries came from Adam Walker, Doug Thompson, Mike Thompson, Keith Stoddart, Richard Taylor, Rob Jones and Steve Neat.

The fourths lost 6-3 to Durham City seconds in a game completed with uncontested scrums after a front row player had to go off.

Brian Alston made it 3-3 with a penalty for Darlington, but City kicked their second penalty in the last five minutes.

A combination of incessant rain and fussy refereeing meant Mowden's game was no spectacle, but they efficiently shut out their opponents, who included former Orrell players Steve Bibby and Martin Strett.

They relied heavily on Bibby at No 8, but the Mowden trio of Tony Irwin, Darren McKinnon and Aaron Radaelli gave the hosts a clear edge in the back row.

Hooker Tasi Tuhana also continued his outstanding form and Mowden applied pressure for most of the first quarter. They scored when they moved the ball left from a scrum and winger Mick Kent burst on to a well-timed pass from Kevan Oliphant to send centre Mark Bedworth under the posts.

A West Park penalty for offside made it 7-3 at half-time, but Mowden were rarely out of the visitors' half afterwards.

After Jason Malcolm won a line-out, full back Kevin McCallum came into the line and side-stepped two men to go under the posts.

For the third try Chris Mattison blocked an opponent's attempt to hack the ball on and the ball flew in the air, allowing Irwin to catch and race in from halfway.

Oliphant added his third conversion and Mowden sent on five replacements as they comfortably protected their lead.

Bishop Auckland lost 51-0 at Gosforth in the second round of the Tetley's Bitter Vase.

Bishops' ageing squad were no match for a much fitter side who included former Newcastle and England Under 21 scrum half Steve Douglas.

But the hosts defended with great determination and it was only in the last 20 minutes that Gosforth's superiority and the appalling weather took their toll.

Bishops could at least take satisfaction from the performance of young wingers Oxley and Howarth