THE Teesside trio of Richardson brothers all scored tries on Saturday, but with mixed results for their clubs.

Middlesbrough captain Dave broke through for the first as his side opened their North One account with an encouraging 54-7 win at home to Liverpool St Helens after leading 24-0 at half-time.

He had an excellent game until retiring with what he assured his team-mates was merely cramp as he is determined to play this week away to the Darlington team led by his brother Lee.

As with the youngest of the trio, Redcar's player-coach Sean, Lee's try was little more than a consolation effort.

Darlington lost 54-24 at Cleckheaton to find themselves bottom of North One, while Redcar's big outlay in recruiting Sean has yet to reap reward as they went down 42-12 at Scarborough in Yorkshire One.

Middlesbrough have lost players to both Darlington and Redcar, but they were encouraged by Saturday's performance as full back Simon Moore landed the first of his three penalties after one minute and converted five of the seven tries.

There were two tries for winger Lewis Connor-Hardwick, who would have had a hat-trick had he not been pulled back when chasing a kick.

That resulted in a penalty try, while hooker Richard Horton joined the threequarters to score, scrum half Peter Wright broke from halfway to race over and winger Paul Norris scored a good individual try.

Darlington are unlikely to include any of their recent Boro recruits this week as Tom Bivens and Chris Palesci were among four casualties from the previous week's game or training, while lock Dave Hinchley suffered a sternum injury and will be out for several weeks.

They had to start the match at Cleckheaton without a backs replacement and sent on back row forward Andy Wilson for winger Adam Kibirige, who tore a hamstring shortly after opening the scoring after ten minutes.

Centre Dave Birkin, who came in for concussion victim Alex Lyneton, suffered knee ligament damage and Darlington played with 14 men for the last 20 minutes.

But the damage was done in the first half as they produced another poor defensive performance against lively opponents who were granted the space to move the ball at every opportunity.

After conceding five tries and trailing 33-10, Darlington showed more grit and determination in the second half, scoring tries through newcomer Haven Haigh and Lee Richardson.

Haigh, an Australian full back who kicks goals, has been brought to the club by flanker Richard Parker after they met while coaching in the United States.

Both played well on Saturday, as did 18-year-old scrum half Brian Thwaites.