RETIRING captain Dave Guthrie fittingly scored the last of the 13 tries as Blaydon ensured their survival in National Two with an 83-33 home win against Waterloo.

But Darlington Mowden Park’s relegation was confirmed, despite an excellent performance away to the National Three North champions, Nuneaton, where they lost 31-25.

Guthrie signed off after 15 years as captain by touching down twice as his side ran amok against the bottom club.

Westcombe Park’s defeat at Blackheath confirmed Blaydon’s safety.

Director of Rugby Nick Gandy, who is also leaving, went on as a late replacement and landed the final conversion after Rory Clegg had kicked eight.

There were two tries each for full back Andrew Baggett, flanker Ross Batty and winger Andrew Fenby, who took his season’s tally to 18.

Robbie Kalbraier, Chris Clark, Brendon Daniel, Simon Barber and Chris Wearmouth scored the other tries, while Waterloo winger Matt Williams grabbed a hat-trick after they had trailed by 59 points midway through the second half.

Tynedale, with fourth place already confirmed, completed their programme with a 32-14 win at Mounts Bay, where centre Jack Harrison scored a hat-trick.

There was also a treble for ex-Mowden player Mark Bedworth, whose goal-kicking took his tally to 32 points as Wharfedale ensured survival with a 52-14 home win against Cinderford.

At Nuneaton, Mowden continued the vastly-improved form which had brought two wins and a draw in the previous three games.

Only an ankle tap on replacement Gavin Painter prevented them from scoring at the death, not that it mattered as Huddersfield’s 43-25 home win against Harrogate meant Mowden were doomed anyway.

While Phil Dawson had another excellent game at No 8, the outstanding player for Mowden was South African centre Dean Kelbrick.

He was always strong down the middle and had a hand in all four tries, three of which stemmed from impressive counter-attacking.

Winger Adam McKenzie scored both tries as Mowden wiped out an early 12-0 deficit.

Both teams scored a third try before half-time, Dawson touching down for Mowden, who nosed 20-19 ahead when Jon Benson kicked a penalty after 64 minutes.

But they conceded two more tries before a late reply from scrum half Martyn Lithgo, who was set up on the blind side of a scrum by Dawson.

Mowden have two games left, at home to Preston Grasshoppers this week and away to Huddersfield.

Seaham collected the first trophy in their 30-year history when they beat Chester-le- Street 22-16 in the Durham Challenge Trophy final at Houghton.