Darlington Mowden Park 22 Kendal 19

MOWDEN Park’s amazing transformation continued with a win which was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests in a pulsating match.

Their magnificent defence held out until the game was safe, then they conceded two tries in injury time. As the last one came from the last move of the match, it could not affect the result.

The joy was shortlived, however, as the teams Mowden could catch in their lastditch bid to stave off relegation both won at home.

In fact, Mowden’s failure to score the second half try which would have earned a four-try bonus point meant they fell a further point behind third-bottom Huddersfield.

The gap is 12 points with three games left, so if Mowden lose away to leaders Nuneaton on Saturday their fate will be sealed.

Following the win at Macclesfield and draw at Caldy, Saturday’s victory resulted from a hugely spirited, 15-man performance.

Mowden led 22-7 until they were reduced to 14 men in the final minute of normal time when frantic defence resulted in winger Matt Goforth being sin-binned.

Similarly illegal try prevention had also seen lock Luke Monument yellow-carded midway through a second half in which they were generally under the cosh. But once Mowden had heroically come through those ten minutes unscathed their hard-earned lead looked safe.

Michael Ellery, who has been impressing at No 8, went down with measles, but it paved the way for Phil Dawson to return. Until his lack of match fitness showed in the closing stages he produced a performance which suggested Newcastle would be wrong to lose interest in him following the shoulder operation which has sidelined him for most of the season.

With both teams playing with pace and ambition it was a highly entertaining game, even if four of the tries came from forwards rumbling over.

The other two were finished off by wingers, Goforth going in from close range for Mowden’s third after a clearance was charged down 30 metres out by flanker Andy Wilson.

That came just before halftime to give them a 19-7 lead, which was stretched by a 40- metre penalty by Jon Benson following a burst down the middle by centre Ian Hodgson from a skilful off-load by Dawson.

At that point it seemed only a matter of time before the fourth try arrived, but Kendal got back on top, as they had for ten minutes after Mowden’s second minute opener.

Hooker Howie Murray finished off that one after the first of several high-speed breaks by scrum half Martyn Lithgo forced a penalty in the right corner, which Mowden kicked to touch.

After withstanding ten minutes of pressure, Mowden made their powerful scrummaging count with a pushover try finished off by Dawson.

Benson converted but again Kendal hit back and after a penalty to the corner they kept driving round the fringes until the No 8 scored.

Mowden should have scored again when, with the ball going right, the slippery Adam Mackenzie came off the left wing to burst through in the centre. He delayed his pass just too long, otherwise equally pacy full back Matthew Lister would have scored.

But when Benson converted Goforth’s try then added his well-struck penalty five minutes into the second half Mowden had what proved a big enough cushion.

Their only other real chance came just after Mackenzie was stopped by a blatant body check, earning a penalty which was kicked to the corner. Mowden knocked on as they were diving for the line and that proved to be their last chance as they hung on for their fifth win of the season.