HOPES are rising that Darlington Mowden Park can pull off the great escape.

Having looked relegation certainties for most of the season in National Three North, they suddenly have a lifeline.

They continued their revival on Saturday by drawing 16-16 away to Caldy, who began the game in second place. Without playing quite as well as in last week’s win at Macclesfield, Mowden confirmed that on current form they could win three of their four remaining games, the likely exception being the trip to leaders Nuneaton.

If they could also pick up a couple of four-try bonus points, they might yet overhaul Huddersfield, having got the gap down from 16 to 11 points in the last fortnight.

There are no easy games, however, as Mowden were reminded when this week’s visitors, Kendal, won at home to Nuneaton on Saturday.

Mowden looked a better side than Caldy when they moved the ball wide, but the big home pack made good use of their powerful runners up front. Blind side flanker Andrew Wilson stood up to them particularly well in a solid team performance.

Mowden had a slight territorial advantage and scored two tries to one but missed both conversions.

Jon Benson gave them an early lead with a penalty, but they trailed 6-3 at half-time and Caldy added a third penalty before Mowden scored the first try. They moved the ball out from the breakdown and flanker Andrew Tonkin charged over, then ten minutes later came the second try.

Caldy were attacking, but Mowden stopped them, grabbed the ball and winger Adam Mackenzie raced over from just inside his own half.

Trailing 13-9, Caldy kept the ball among their forwards and scored a converted try. But with five minutes left Mowden were awarded a penalty 30 metres out and replacement Ben Snook found the target.

Caldy had a chance to snatch victory with the last kick of the game, but was off target.

Blaydon scored a try with the last move of the game to pick up what could be a crucial bonus point in a 54-24 home defeat by Cambridge, who are second in National Two. With three games left Blaydon are five points ahead of their rivals for the fourth relegation spot, Westcombe Park. Wharfedale are not out of the woods after losing 14-10 at home to Tynedale. They are six points ahead of Blaydon with only two games left.

Blaydon face a tough trip this week to Cinderford so they are banking on five points at home to bottom club Waterloo the following week.

The point they picked up on Saturday really was a bonus as they again played poorly and trailed 42-7 shortly after half-time. With Andrew Fenby joining the hosts’ casualty list, Cambridge were sharper in the backs, but a missed tackle in the forwards gave them the opening try before Blaydon enjoyed ten minutes of domination. They went close several times before the Cambridge front row stood up for the second time when going backwards in a scrum and a penalty try was awarded. But Blaydon then lost their way, conceding four more tries before halftime and another shortly afterwards.

Andrew Baggett impressed when he went on at full back and later switched to centre.

Peter Browne finished off a good move, then the ball was moved across the field and back for winger Brendon Daniel to wriggle through two tackles and touch down.

Finally, with time up, Blaydon kept the ball alive and flanker Scott Riddell ran through a gap to score. Rory Clegg kicked one conversion and Baggett the other.

Wharfedale suffered in the absence of Mark Bedworth as the two kickers they tried missed six times against Tynedale. Gavin Beasley converted two tries by centre Jack Harrison and Rupert Harden as Tynedale secured fourth place.

Middlesbrough trailed 16-15 with ten minutes left at Sheffield Tigers, but mounted a storming finish to win 25-16.

They had gone off the boil after playing extremely well in the first half to lead 15-3.

But again it was only towards the end of the half that they made their pressure count, with a Simon O’Farrell penalty being swiftly followed by a Richie Barker try.

Following a strike against the head by Tom Symon, Barker picked up from the back of the scrum and got involved again when the ball was recycled.

Callum Campbell scored a 20-metre interception try just before half-time and added the conversion. Tigers scored a try immediately after the break, and midway through the second half another try and a penalty edged them in front. Boro came back with an O’Farrell penalty and near the end centre Rob Bellerby raced home from 40 metres.

O’Farrell added the conversion.

Two penalties by Paul Moss kept West Hartlepool in touch at half-time at Morley, but the Yorkshiremen dominated afterwards to win 29-6.

After their heavy defeat at Percy Park last week, Stockton almost pulled off a draw at home to the same opponents. But the visitors kicked a penalty a minute from the end of normal time and added another in injury time for a 23-17 win.