Referees incur the wrath of Blaydon and Mowden

Both felt they had what were perfectly good tries disallowed, while the home sides were allowed to get away with far too many infringements.

To make matters worse for Mowden at Nuneaton, they conceded two late converted tries when injuries had reduced them to 13 men, making the scoreline of 32-5 totally unrealistic.

But Blaydon's 28-16 defeat at Hull Ionians was the greater shock, especially after they led 16-15 at half-time and spent the next 15 minutes camped on their hosts' line.

They had two tries ruled out in that period by Durham referee Andrew Gardner, then Blaydon began to lose their discipline.

They conceded ten metres for dissent, allowing Hull to kick a penalty, and as things increasingly went against them Blaydon gave away a host of penalties and finally had lock Dave Whitehead sent off.

He had been sin-binned in the 27th minute for careless use of the boot and his second yellow card three minutes from time was for dissent.

Hull also had a man sent off - flanker James Watt for stamping in the 39th minute - while Blaydon flanker Pat Segi was sin-binned for going in from the side.

With Hull's ex-Bristol man Derek Eves notorious for trying to influence referees and run the game from No 8, Blaydon had talked at length about what to expect. But they allowed the home players to rattle them.

They also began poorly, going 7-0 down before fly half Richard Windle dummied through for a converted try.

Hull kicked a penalty, but then Blaydon got well on top and Windle landed three penalties, only for Ionians to score a try immediately after Watt was dismissed.

During Blaydon's 15 minutes of domination after the break skipper Dave Guthrie rolled over for a try, ruled out when a touch judge said he had knocked on.

Then scrum half Micky Dungait took a quick penalty six metres out and shot over, but that was also disallowed.

Once Hull went ahead Blaydon lost the plot and conceded another converted try and a late penalty.

Nuneaton's win took them back to the top, but Mowden chairman John Parkinson was not impressed.

He said: "There were people being taken out off the ball and they were all over us in the line-out.

"We had a good try disallowed in the first half, then at 18-5 down we were camped on their line and they were cautioned twice by the Midlands referee for slowing the ball down. When it happened again we felt we should have had a penalty try, but we were penalised instead for protesting.

"It looks a bad defeat but we really turned it on for 20 minutes in the second half and the team deserve praise."

The first blow for Mowden came with the loss of centre Gareth Kerr after ten minutes. He had already put in four tackles as Mowden defended well under pressure until they conceded two penalties in quick succession.

At 6-0 down after 20 minutes came the disallowed try. Winger Matt Barker followed up a kick, fell on the ball and while trying to get up managed to flip the ball to lock Ian Robinson, who crossed the line. But Barker was adjudged to have passed off the floor.

Poor tackling then allowed Nuneaton to score their first try and just before half-time they charged down a kick by fly half Johann Booysen, who otherwise had an excellent game, to score again.

The conversion made it 18-0 at half-time, but Mowden got on top despite having to take Robinson off as he was feeling the ankle injury which had kept him out for two months.

After a series of attacks Booysen nipped through to score after good work by the forwards, but another good chance was squandered when Kerr's replacement, Roddy Gouionnet, ignored a three-man overlap.

It remained 18-5 until the 75th minute, when Nuneaton broke out for a converted try. Mowden immediately sent on their remaining replacements, only for Booysen and Fosita Tanginoa to be injured.

That left them with 13 men and Nuneaton scored another converted try after three minutes of added time.

Durham City lost the North Two East top-of-the-table battle at Penrith 20-13 after fighting back from 12-3 down to lead 13-12 early in the second half. A penalty put Penrith back in front and they sealed victory with a late try.

City started well but were kept out by good defence and Penrith broke out to score. James Walker replied with a penalty before the hosts scored again, then just before half-time centre Tomas Bieliauskas finished off a good City move.

Walker converted and followed it with a penalty after the break, but the lead was shortlived and Penrith's late try came from a maul.

Stockton climbed to fourth from the bottom with a 12-5 home win against Alnwick, marred by 18-year-old centre Tom Armstrong breaking a hand in two places after an impressive performance.

He beat his man on the outside to set up the first try for winger Richie Brown and strolled over for the second after a good forward drive.

Jeremy Good's conversion made it 12-0 at half-time, but it had taken Stockton 25 minutes to score despite total domination.

Veteran lock Keith Etherington, who had an excellent game, stormed almost to the line before the final pass went astray, while another chance was ruined by a knock-on with the line begging.

Alnwick woke up after break but their only points came when they rolled over following a five-metre scrum midway through the half.

Hartlepool Rovers won 13-12 at home to Morpeth, who led twice in what became a dogged battle in difficult conditions.

Paul Jackson scored both Morpeth's tries, the first opening the scoring after eight minutes. Rovers replied through No 8 Jason White, Gareth Foreman converting and quickly adding a penalty to put them ahead.

Jackson's second came with 20 minutes left, but Foreman kicked another penalty to nudge Rovers back in front and they defended well to hang on.

West Hartlepool drew 13-13 at home to Sheffield, whose pressure was rewarded when the full back came into the line to score a converted try ten minutes from time.

West dominated the first 15 minutes and scored a catch-and-drive try through Brett Cullinane, only to concede two penalties at the breakdown to trail 6-5 at half-time.

With the wind behind them, West went back in front through a try by lock Andrew Davies after 55 minutes then Phil Wallis took over the kicking to land a penalty. But they were unable to press home their advantage.

In Durham and Northumberland One, Horden narrowed the gap on visitors Malton and Norton, who are one place above them in second spot, with a 20-10 win.

Centre Andrew White and prop Mike Thompson scored the tries, both converted by Andrew Turner, who added two penalties.

There is little sign of improvement for big-spending Consett, who are in mid-table after losing 35-19 away to leaders Northern.

Things are looking bleak for Whitby, who have slipped down the leagues and have only two points in D and N Two. After crying off their Yorkshire Shield match at Aireborough last week, they were again unable to raise a side to travel to Winlaton.

In Yorkshire Three mid-table Northallerton defied muddy conditions to beat visitors Old Modernians 18-0, tries coming from Ben Allerton and Matt Cornforth, while Brian Tucker kicked a conversion and two penalties.

Gisende stars

Newcastle Falcons Academy drew 18-18 against Stellenbosch University at Tynedale, both sides defying the muddy conditions to produce a classic contest.

In the absence of the injured Lee Dickson, the Falcons were well led by Eni Gisende, one of three members of the squad who had played for Mowden Park the previous week.

Prop Danny Brow n played for the first half and the versatile Ross Batty went on as a replacement scrum half, only to be sin-binned just before the South Africans scored the late try which earned the draw.

Newcastle scored tries through Gisende and hooker Stuart Mackie as they built a 15-7 half-time lead, but did well to hang on for the draw against a big, physical side.