WHILE Darlington Mowden Park comfortably completed the double over Kendal, they were not helped by events elsewhere in their battle against relegation.

On the day when expansion of the national leagues became even less likely, Leicester Lions pulled off a shock 22-13 win at Preston Grasshoppers.

The Lions had become favourites for the third relegation spot in National Three North, but they climbed a point ahead of Macclesfield, who are three behind Mowden with a game in hand.

Cleckheaton are also in the frame, a point behind Mowden with two games in hand after picking up a hard-earned bonus point in a 14-7 defeat at Tynedale.

The latest missive from Twickenham indicates that an RFU task group has recommended there should be no expansion of the leagues, and in the latest voting 16 clubs are opposed to it - an increase of more than 50 per cent.

It is now imperative that Mowden win away to second-bottom New Brighton next Saturday as none of their last four games is easy, although they will fancy winning at home to Darlington on April 8, having beaten them at Blackwell Meadows.

Eni Gisende is not available this week, and he again showed his huge value, while lock Luke Monument was outstanding in the 27-7 win at Kendal.

It was again an easy ride following last week's 37-7 home win against the Cumbrians and Mowden led 27-0 with 18 minutes left before easing off.

The two second half tries, which ensured the bonus point and were converted by Anthony Mellalieu, came from driving mauls in which flanker Ricky Bagier emerged with the ball.

Although the pitch was not the expected quagmire, it was heavy enough in combination with a bitterly cold wind to make for a dour contest.

Kendal attacked early on without really threatening then fell off-side the first time Mowden escaped their own half, allowing fly half Mellalieu to make it 3-0.

The first try came after 12 minutes when Gisende won a turnover in his own 22, took the ball on and found Bagier in support. He also made ten metres before sending centre Gareth Kerr over from around halfway.

A long clearance from his 22 by full back Iain Dixon led to the second try, with winger Michael Breen following up to put Kendal under pressure. They tried to scramble the ball away, but Mowden's impressive French centre Roddy Gouionnet gathered it and rode three tackles to score.

Just before half-time a Kendal lock had an altercation with Mowden hooker Junior Fagalilo and both were sin-binned.

It was all Mowden for the first 20 minutes of the second half and they spurned several chances either side of Bagier's brace. The forwards drove 20 metres for the first, and the second came from a catch-and-drive following a penalty to the corner.

In a scrappy finish Kendal scored their consolation try after 65 minutes.

Blaydon blew hot and cold in their 61-24 win at home to New Brighton, who were in the game at 19-14 after 35 minutes. But when prop Paul Winter twisted over just before half-time it sparked a burst of six tries in 24 minutes by Blaydon.

They scored nine tries in total and fly half Dan Clappison converted eight of them, but they also suffered two worrying injuries ahead of Saturday's crucial visit to promotion rivals Nuneaton.

James Kyle is out for the season with damaged ankle ligaments, suffered after he moved from scrum half to the wing for the last ten minutes.

He switched with Nick Williams, who had gone on for Simon Barber, who was kneed in the back when he touched down three minutes after half-time and took no further part.

Williams is due to play for Austria, for whom he qualifies through a grandparent, next weekend and if he goes ahead with that Blaydon will have to choose between Micky Dungait or Director of Rugby Nick Gandy at scrum half.

Blaydon often shoved their visitors off their own scrum ball and the first instance led to a try by centre Sua Segi after two minutes.

No 8 Paul Brady scored the next two from pushovers, but inbetween a New Brighton centre went through a gap to score.

The same centre intercepted a lobbed pass by Martin Shaw to race over from 70 metres after 35 minutes, but the tries either side of half-time by Winter and Barber killed off the visitors.

The foul on Barber was punished by a yellow card and a penalty on halfway, which Blaydon kicked to touch then moved the ball out for Shaw to score.

Lock Paul Clark was driven over from a line-out, Clappison popped up in the middle to finish off a Sua Segi break, then flanker Dave Marwick appeared on the wing to run in from 20 metres.

Blaydon sent all their subs on and in a loose game they ended up conceding four tries for the first time this season.

Cleckheaton, who have no easy games left, were in fighting mood at Tynedale but were unable to capitalise on wind advantage in a scoreless first half.

Tries by winger Jack Harrison and prop Douglas Jupp, both converted by Phil Belgian, then put the hosts 14-0 ahead, but Cleckheaton fought back to earn their bonus point.