BLAYDON went to the top of National Three North with a 41-9 win at New Brighton and their chances of promotion might be helped by an expansion of the leagues.

With division one and two clubs expected to vote in favour at a meeting at Stourbridge next week, Blaydon are happy for Three North to follow suit as long as the money currently put into the Powergen National Trophy is shared among the clubs.

Two extra teams would mean four more league games and there would be no room for the cup.

While Blaydon are looking forward to their fifth round Powergen tie at Nottingham on Saturday, it means having to rearrange their league game at home to Nuneaton.

The postponement of Darlington Mowden Park's match at Kendal also poses a problem as they have already had to rearrange their match at Fylde for February 4, the day they were supposed to play Blaydon in the county cup. The next available date to go to Kendal is March 18, county cup semi-final day.

Blaydon's only major worry ahead of the Nottingham trip is No 8 Ed Thorpe, who retired shortly after half-time with a recurrence of his knee problem. But Pat Segi should be fit to take his place.

Against a poor New Brighton side, Blaydon won the first two scrums against the head and rumbled over after five minutes, Thorpe touching down.

But for the next 20 minutes they made breaks and got isolated, or the final pass didn't go to hand, and two penalties put them 6-5 behind.

Fly half Richard Windle then put full back Michael Campbell over, but after an exchange of penalties the lead was only 13-9 at half-time.

The forwards immediately stepped it up and with centres Martin Shaw and Sua Segi again outstanding Blaydon added three tries, plus three penalties and two conversions by Windle.

He also scored a try when he dummied over, then Shaw finished a good move and a strong run by Campbell sent in winger James Kyle.

Blaydon were grateful the game went ahead as three North One matches in Cheshire were frozen off, including Westoe's at Altrincham Kersal.

Acklam Park was in good condition to allow Middlesbrough to move up two places with a 32-3 win against bottom club Whitchurch.

It was only 6-0 after 30 minutes, through two penalties by fly half Simon Moore, but then the game opened up with both sides contributing.

The Boro forwards worked hard and were rewarded when Chris Horton was driven over after a penalty to the corner. Moore converted and Whitchurch replied with a penalty to make it 13-3 at half-time.

It took a further 15 minutes for Boro to stamp their authority through scrum half Peter Wright taking a quick penalty on halfway and racing away to score under the posts.

Shortly afterwards No 8 Greg Jacobs picked up at a scrum and sent flanker Gavin Fingland over for another converted try.

Finally skipper Iain Bradford came out of a maul 40 metres out and shrugged off three tackles to score in the corner.

Stockton moved above visitors Sandal at the bottom of North Two East with a 46-27 home win which featured seven tries, having previously scored four all season.

Two 18-year-olds starred in No 8 Sam Toulson and winger Tom Jeffery, while Owain Jenkins did well at full back.

A missed tackle allowed Sandal to go ahead through a routine backs move, but Stockton came straight back and a big gap in midfield allowed Wayne Brown to put lock Keith Etherington over.

The first of four Jeremy Good conversions was followed by a Sandal penalty before Stockton began to forge ahead through a penalty by Good after 20 minutes.

Strong scrummaging led to the next two tries, Jenkins coming into the line to score before prop Simon Brown rumbled over.

Then a Sandal attack broke down and Jeffery picked up the ball and raced 60 metres to score.

Stockton were caught napping by a quick penalty just before half-time, conceding a try to make it 27-13, but their scrummaging superiority quickly took its toll after the visiting hooker was sin-binned.

Good dummied over for a converted try, then Sandal were pushed off the ball and Toulson picked up and showed good strength in driving over from the 22.

After another big drive the ball was spun out for right winger Richie Brown to score and at 46-13 Stockton sent on two replacements, only to concede two converted tries.

With Penrith losing at Beverley, Durham City missed the chance to go top when their home match against Hartlepool Rovers was frozen off.

West Hartlepool continued their improvement with a third successive win, 26-15 win at Percy Park, taking them into mid-table.

They dominated up front but led only 13-10 until a decisive five-minute period early in the second half.

It started with prop Mark Cholmondeley collecting a kick on halfway and selling a big dummy before charging up the wing. Several phases later Martin Todd scored his second try on the opposite wing.

Then Darren Thomas broke away to score from halfway, and although Percy Park replied with a try Paul Rudd scored from a five-metre line-out for West and they hung on through good defence for the last 20 minutes. Their other first half try was scored by David Tighe following a maul, and Phil Wallis added a penalty.