BLAYDON moved into second place in National Three North with scrum half James Kyle scoring a hat-trick in the 48-12 win away to bottom club Kendal.

It was planned to rest Kyle, Martin Shaw and a couple of forwards, but as conditions had been too wet to train on Thursday night Blaydon decided not to take any risks.

They are more likely to rest people at home to New Brighton this week before they build up for a massive game at Nuneaton on March 18.

After losing their unbeaten record at Tynedale last week, Nuneaton lost 19-17 at home to new leaders Bradford and Bingley and are now a point behind Blaydon with a game in hand.

Kyle, who recently switched from the wing, scored one of his tries from close range, but for the others he really showed his paces to race over from around 35 metres.

There were also two more tries for powerful winger Andrew Fenby, taking his tally to nine in seven games. He showed some clever footwork for one of them, beating six men from 15 metres.

Another newcomer, Dan Graney, a Newcastle student who has played for Harrogate, went on at fly half for the injured Dan Clappison just before half-time and scored a try and two conversions as Blaydon notched 29 points without reply in the second half.

In conditions which were better than expected, Kendal showed plenty of spirit for a team without a point and trailed only 19-12 at half-time.

A minute after the break Shaw followed up a kick which bounced kindly for him to send winger Simon Barber over.

Then came Kyle's two brilliant efforts before Graney shot through for his first try for the club and finally centre Sua Segi went through the middle to score under the posts.

Darlington Mowden Park slipped back into the third relegation spot as defensive frailties and poor decision making saw them lose 27-18 at Macclesfield.

The next three games are against the bottom two for Mowden, which should see them climb above Leicester Lions, who have a tough run-in.

After reducing a 17-0 deficit to 17-10 at half-time, Mowden failed to make use of a strong, bitterly cold wind in a scrappy game.

All three of Macclesfield's tries resulted from poor tackling, the decisive one coming five minutes from time when the gap was only two points and Mowden appeared to be on top.

The referee wasted no time in stamping his authority on the game, awarding nine penalties in the first 15 minutes and 30 altogether.

Macclesfield missed three before landing one after 12 minutes, then scored converted tries after 17 and 30 minutes.

The second came while Mowden flanker Gavin Stainsby was in the sin-bin, but as soon as he returned fly half Anthony Mellalieu kicked a good penalty.

He also converted after the Mowden forwards drove almost to the line and scrum half Andy Foreman scored.

Prop Dave Sinclair was sin-binned early in the second half, but Mowden got on top and after the forwards took the ball on centre Gareth Kerr broke through to score.

Penalties were exchanged to keep the gap at two points, but although Mowden were the better side in the last ten minutes they conceded a soft converted try.

Middlesbrough coach Dave Butcher described his side's second half performance as "pathetic" as they lost 44-13 at Longton to slip to third bottom in North One.

With the bottom end of the Stoke-based club's pitch a mixture of sand and mud there was some talk about calling the game off, but Longton wanted to play and the win leaves them only one point behind Boro with two games in hand.

"The conditions suited their big forwards, but we can't use that as an excuse," said Butcher, whose side were level at 10-10 at half-time.

"They scored early in the second half and we went to pieces. Players started nit-picking among themselves and blaming everybody else and when that happens everything breaks down.

"We don't travel well. I can shout and ball as much as I like, but it comes down to an individual's mentality. It's up to them to get themselves up for the game."

Boro lost centre Dave Richardson with a twisted knee after 30 minutes and his replacement, Nick Pope, scored their only try.

Westoe took the lead with an early try, but trailed 13-7 at the interval on the way to a 30-19 defeat at Altrincham Kersal.

Sunderland were faced with playing two games in one day, but following their claims that Yarm were unwilling to switch their Durham Junior Cup tie the Teessiders pulled out.

Sunderland went back to the top of Durham and Northumberland Division Two with a 14-12 win at Winlaton.

Horden went through in the Senior Cup when Hartlepool Rovers were unable to raise a front row.