Darlington will be able to use their next Tetley's Bitter Cup opponents, Wharfedale, as a case study in how far it is possible for them to progress.

Judging from the ease with which they beat National Division Three visitors Aspatria in the first round on Saturday, they are maintaining their steep upward curve.

Wharfedale are one rung higher up the ladder than Aspatria - that's three above Darlington - and as the Grassington club have home advantage on October 7, Darlington will be very much the underdogs.

How a rural club prospers at that level, and at what cost, is something from which Darlington can learn.

With so many good young players coming through, the future is obviously very bright. The progress is such that tomorrow's home match in North Two (East) against Morpeth, who were previously several divisions higher, should not present too great a challenge.

While Mowden Park's 38-14 cup win against Broughton Park was no more than expected, Darlington's 32-15 win at home to Aspatria raised a few eyebrows.

It could have been even more comfortable but for a nervous start as Darlington went 7-0 down straight from the kick-off. A poor pass by David Andrew went to ground and Aspatria swept on the ball to score a converted try.

They also led 15-12 just before half-time, but Darlington proved fitter and better at ball retention as they took increasing control.

The front row provided the platform for a good team performance and they made sure of victory with two tries by winger Mark Butler after sending four replacements on with 20 minutes left.

Darlington drew level after six minutes when the forwards drove on and No 8 Del Lewis picked up and ran eight metres to score.

But the big Aspatria full back was causing problems with his bursts into the line and after 22 minutes he cut through to score.

It became 12-12 when Paul Lee sold a dummy and Butler almost reached the line, the ball going to ground before Craig Lee followed up to squeeze in at the corner. Another mistake at the restart allowed Aspatria to kick a penalty, but they managed no further points.

When Darlington probed the blind side from a ruck, Paul Beattie came across from his opposite wing and the ball was flipped inside for Kieron Thompson to score. He added his second conversion to make it 19-15 at half-time.

Thompson was the only 18-year-old in the starting line-up as lock Richard Snowball was injured. But scrum half Robbie Stewart and prop Dan Miller were among the replacements who went on.

Their young legs helped Darlington to turn the screw after a Thompson penalty had stretched the lead to seven points.

With 15 minutes of normal time remaining Darlington drove up the right, sucked in the defence and gave Butler a free run to the line.

By this time they were regularly breaking out of defence by stealing Aspatria's ball in the tackle, and this was the case when a kick ahead resulted in Stewart catching an opponent in possession. The ball was regained and moved out for Butler to surge over from ten metres.

Mowden produced a workmanlike performance against opponents from one division lower and were always in command, leading 26-0 before they rang the changes and conceded two converted tries.

Three tries resulted from line-out possession won by Jason Malcolm, with Dave Sinclair, Steve Sanderson and Aaron Radaelli driving over.

Radaelli was involved in the first try after four minutes when he drove through and was stamped on by the visiting scrum half, who was sent to the sin bin.

The penalty was kicked to the corner and resulted in Sinclair's try, which was swiftly followed by the first of two Kevan Oliphant penalties, which helped to make it 16-0 at half-time.

Despite facing the wind, Mowden scored again straight from the restart when they rumbled towards the line and hooker Tasi Tuhana touched down.

Five minutes later a rout looked likely when Mick Kent cut through the middle and was high tackled. The resulting penalty to the corner produced Radaelli's try.

Mowden sent on Will Green for scrum half Phil Harvey and Ian Keeligan for prop Barry Beeken, only to concede a try from a rolling maul. But Oliphant restored the gap by carving through to race 40 metres to the line.

The Broughton Park fly half was allowed to stroll over from quick ruck ball before Kent made 30 metres from his own half and the ball was moved right for Del Russell to score.

Mowden lost Malcolm to the sin bin for stamping late in the game and sent on three more replacements in John Stewart, Ian James and Jonathan Malcolm.

Mowden seconds have yet to find a fixture this season, but the thirds lost 19-9 away to Redcar, the points coming from three Andy Craggs penalties.

Darlington seconds beat a bigger York side 22-7 with tries from Tom de la Motte, Simon White and Mark Guy. Ian Dove added a penalty and two conversions.

The thirds beat York 39-26, tries coming from Peter Beecroft, Doug Thompson, Sean Banner, Jim Cunningham and Mark Eccles, with Mike Bradley kicking three conversions and a penalty.

Bishop Auckland were pleased to field two full sides against Chester-le-Street. But while the blend of veterans and youngsters in the second team won 34-7, the firsts suffered their second defeat from two games in Durham and Northumberland Division Three.

An injury time penalty gave the visitors a 19-17 win as Bishops produced an inept display. They were outgunned at the line-out and added to their problems with some poor tackling.

Ian Campbell kicked four penalties for Bishops and a try by Steve Hargreaves put them ahead after they had trailed 16-9. But a late tackle cost them victory.

The seconds scored six tries through Dave Walker (2), Graeme Doran, Simon Howarth, Alan Layfield and Mark Nicholson, with Colin Hamilton kicking two conversions.

On Sunday Bishop Auckland Under 16s lost 43-0 at Gateshead, but it was only late in the game when the visiting pack tired that the hosts were able to run in several tries.

Vice-captain Rex Fairless led the pack well, but new captain Jonathan Witton returns after injury for Sunday's match at Westoe