DARLINGTON Mowden Park's eighth successive win took them six points clear in National Three North when they scored six tries in a 35-10 victory at Morley.

Second-placed Chester failed to gain a bonus point from their win at Burnage, while Mowden's backs ensured that Grant Connon could afford an off-day with the boot.

When Morley scored a converted try early in the second half the gap was down to 13-10, but scrum half Todd Harrison scored from the restart and further tries came from full back Max Connon, lock Andy Wilson and hooker Andy Tonkin.

Mowden brought in Chris Campbell as a late replacement for lock Tom Schofield, who broke a hand when playing his third game in five days as Northumbria University lost to Durham.

He was due to feature for the Newcastle Falcons Development XV against Leicester at Percy Park tonight, but will be out for up to five weeks.

Matty Lister was also injured, so Paul Shepherd played on the wing and scored the second try after prop Dan Miller got the first.

Not helped by the length of the grass, Connon kicked only one conversion, but he had opened the scoring with a penalty and Mowden led 13-3 after 13 minutes.

They went off the boil until the class of their backs had its reward.

The alarm bells are ringing for Blaydon after a 58-22 defeat at Cinderford, one of five teams below them in National One.

Fortunately for the Crow Trees club, the others all lost, including this week's visitors Wharfedale.

That's a match Micky Ward's men will be desperate to win to halt a run of five defeats - something they looked capable of on Saturday when they reduced an early 17-0 deficit to 17-12.

They were still in it when lock Chris Wearmouth earned the four-try bonus point to make it 32-22 in the 56th minute and they dominated the next five minutes.

But with the line beckoning they were trying to exploit an overlap when an interception got Cinderford back on the front foot and Blaydon collapsed.

The hosts were running in tries virtually at will in the last ten minutes, which meant the score was an injustice to the Blaydon pack.

They had enjoyed long periods of dominance, despite losing Jason Smithson after five minutes with a head injury.

They used pick-and-drive to good effect during their first half fightback, leading to a try for hooker Matt Hall before fly half Niall Rowark threw out a long pass for winger Matt Clark to score.

Flanker Ben Morris capped an outstanding display by finishing off good combination between forward and backs early in the second half and Wearmouth's try gave Blaydon real hope. But with fly half Rory Teague collecting 23 points Cinderford ran away with it.

Injury-hit Tynedale did well to gain a bonus point after a late fightback at Blackheath saw them reduce a 22-3 half-time deficit to 22-20.

Will Massey, a prolific full back a few years ago, had to be drafted in on the wing and scored in the left corner in the 67th minute.

Powerful No 8 Sam Shires then touched down but the final try by replacement Matthew Horrocks came right at the death.

Westoe's promotion aspirations in National Two North were put into perspective by a 39-8 home defeat by leaders Loughborough Students.

Two weeks ago Westoe were level at the top, but after two successive defeats they have slipped to fifth, ten points adrift.

After attracting a crowd of 3,500 to a fireworks display the previous evening, Westoe started with a bang when No 8 Ollie Stedman drove over after eight minutes.

The Students swiftly replied, but a Stedman penalty restored the lead before the visitors' class began to tell. They led 18-7 at the break, and with Westoe losing key backs David Haswell and Tommy Banks either side of the interval they were unable to match their opponents.

Westoe were down to 14 men when Loughborough scored the first of four second half tries, while the second came from an interception and the final two were late in the game.

West Hartlepool won 31-8 at home to Altrincham Kersal, with skipper Dan Boatman, Gareth Eddy and centre Greg Edwards (2) ensuring the second four-try performance of the season.

Three penalties by Gareth Foreman helped West to a 16-8 half-time lead and after competing well the visitors faded in the second half.

Boatman finished a series of phases on the right wing then a Gareth Foreman chip allowed Edwards to touch down and eight minutes from time Eddy finished off a rolling maul.

There was no change at the top of North One East as Billingham won 23-18 at Morpeth and Middlesbrough beat Malton and Norton 33-13.

Boro trailed 13-3 early on but roused themselves to play good rugby and score five tries, with winger Peter Whitaker grabbing two.

The others came from Peter Wright, Richard Horton and Jack Aldus, with Jack Bircham adding two penalties and a conversion.

Hartlepool Rovers' 12-11 defeat at Guisborough allowed Stockton to move back into second place in Durham and Northumberland One, despite handing hosts Acklam two bonus points by relaxing in injury time.

A hat-trick by Simon Crozier and two tries by fellow winger Dan Phinn, taking his tally to 13, helped Stockton into a 35-17 lead.

But Acklam threw the ball around in added time and scored two converted tries to make the final score 35-31.

Acklam had also kicked four penalties in the first 15 minutes of the second half to get the gap down to one point. But by the 80th minute Stockton led the try count 6-1, scrum half Rob Green having nipped over when the forwards drove to the line.