WITH World Cup referee Dave Pearson in charge and former England captain Roger Uttley looking on, Middlesbrough must have felt they were moving in high circles at Team Northumbria on Saturday.

There was no stage fright, however, as they eased to a 37-13 win to stay one point behind North One East leaders Billingham, who won 36-0 at Gateshead.

Team Northumbria are in their second season at this level and are struggling to keep up the momentum of the three successive promotions which took them there, despite having Uttley and ex-Scotland lock Stuart Grimes among their coaching consultants.

Ashington-based Pearson, who took charge of three World Cup matches, was officiating in his first match since returning from New Zealand and a Boro spokesman said: "It was a pleasure to see a match so well refereed. There were no arguments from the players."

Although the home forwards scrummaged well, they were otherwise outgunned and Boro scored three tries from forward drives. The first came after four minutes from skipper Richie Barker, who came in as a late replacement a week ahead of schedule following a knee operation.

Penalties were exchanged but the game tilted Boro's way when hooker Richie Horton scored a 50-metre interception try. Full back Ross McNeill then came into the line to finish a good handling move and just before half-time scrum half Peter Wright nipped over in the corner.

No 8 Jack Aldus and Horton finished forward drives in the second half either side of a well-worked try by the students. Wright landed a penalty and two conversions.

While the presence of Newcastle Falcons fly half Joel Hodgson inspired Tynedale to a 49-9 home win against National One's bottom club Birmingham and Solihull, Blaydon's slide down the table continued.

Despite dominating the second half, they lost 12-6 at home to Jersey with the upper crust eventually prevailing as visiting fly half Michael Le Bourgeois scored the decisive try ten minutes from time.

After falling behind to a try while under pressure in the first 20 minutes, Blaydon were slightly fortunate to lead 6-5 at half-time through two Gavin Painter penalties.

But they were well on top in the second half and missed five chances to score, mainly through poor handling. The visitors were down to 13 men for two minutes, one of the yellow cards resulting from a spear tackle which might have merited more.

Blaydon were also unhappy that while they were driving for the line during that period a visiting flanker blatantly went in from the side and wasn't even penalised.

Ten minutes from time Painter attempted a drop goal from halfway and a visiting winger ran the ball back to set up Le Bourgeois' try, which he also converted.

Since ending Fylde's unbeaten record Blaydon have suffered four successive defeats and are sixth from the bottom. In the next two weeks they play sides below them, Cinderford and Wharfedale.

Apart from having Hodgson available, Tynedale benefited from the return of skipper Jack Harrison and also fielded stalwart lock Andrew Murray for the first time this season. He was sin-binned on half-time, however, and didn't reappear.

They had four tries in the bag after 18 minutes but led only 20-9 at half-time before cutting loose again. Wingers Alan Rogers and Hamish Smales scored two tries each, others coming from Harrison and fellow centre Harry Mountain, back row man Sam Shires and replacement hooker George McGuigan.

Westoe lost their National Two North match at Huddersfield 26-15 after the home fly half built a lead through an interception try, a penalty and a drop goal.

Ollie Stedman kicked a penalty just before half-time for Westoe and the teams scored two tries each in the second half, Tommy Banks and Haydn Richards touching down for the visitors.

West Hartlepool lost 29-10 at Birkenhead Park in National Three North after leading 10-7 with 20 minutes left.

All their points came from full back Stu Waites, who converted his own try for a 7-0 lead and added a 50th minute penalty.

Birkenhead finally forged ahead through a converted try and penalty, then denied West a bonus point with two further tries at the death.

Darlington conceded 22 penalties and had to work hard for the four-try bonus point which kept them four points clear in Durham and Northumberland One. The final try came seven minutes from time in a 26-10 win at Medicals, who provided determined opposition in a scrappy game. Owen Waldin, home from university, did well for Darlington when drafted in at fly half with Henry Carver switching to full back.

Medicals scored the first try after ten minutes and were still in the game at 14-10 after 50 minutes. But Darlington's forward power prevailed, all the tries coming through the pack from close range. No 8 Kris Ward charged over twice, the others being finished off by lock Chris Oakley and prop Joe Hargreaves. Carver added three conversions.

Stockton beat Novos 40-3, despite having to play Jeremy Good at scrum half for the first time with an ankle problem which persuaded him to relinquish the kicking duties.

Winger Dan Phinn scored a hat-trick, No 8 Scott Powell bagged a brace and there was one try each for Simon Crozier and Steve Thornton. Good had opened the scoring with a penalty and the only conversion was landed by Luke Tinkler.

n An England Under-18 side dominated by southern clubs featured two members of the Newcastle Falcons Academy and both scored tries in a 54-5 win against London Academies at Harrow School.

Prop Scott Wilson, who attends Sedbergh School, and Yarm winger Zach Kibirige both touched down. Coached by former Newcastle pair, John Fletcher and Pete Walton, the under-18 squad have enjoyed a half-term training camp in London, and Fletcher said: "They've worked extremely hard all week and it's nice to get a performance at the end of it all."