MIDDLESBROUGH tuned up for the visit of North One East leaders Billingham this week by returning to form with a crucial 28-5 win at Wheatley Hills.
The Doncaster club remain one point ahead of Boro in second place, but the visitors were delighted to arrest their slide with a depleted team.
They were under pressure for the first half hour and trailed 5-0 but then scored two converted tries before half-time and added two more.
For the first the forwards got to the line and fed prop Craig Chapman on the charge and for the second player-coach Paul Lee put in a delicate chip for full back Ross McNeill to run on to and score.
Scrum half Peter Wright nipped over from a ruck to score his 100th try for the club after 50 minutes and finally prop Phil Harland was driven over. Jack Bircham kicked all the conversions.
Billingham's 26-0 win at home to Old Crossleyans stretched their lead at the top to eight points.
Blaydon felt they had missed a glorious opportunity to topple Rosslyn Park, who moved into second place in National One with a 34-30 home win.
Although they picked up two points, Blaydon might have won had a late penalty to the corner not drifted just the wrong side of the flag as their fifth try had come from a ten-metre catch-and-drive.
It was scored by skipper Matt Hall, his second of the match, with six minutes left and the visiting forwards remained on top, as they had been for most of the match.
Rosslyn Park had the quicker backs, however, with full back Nev Edwards scoring two tries through sheer pace.
Either side of his first Andrew Bagget kicked two penalties for Blaydon. Following lots of recycling he then nipped through a gap 15 metres out and found Hall on his left shoulder.
The conversion made it 13-7 but the hosts scored two more converted tries before Blaydon's big winger, David Sheldon, powered over from ten metres.
The other winger, ex-Stockton man Tom Jeffery, put in two good runs in the second half. The first sparked a move in which centre Matt Clark was twice involved before finishing off by the posts.
Baggett's conversion put Blaydon back in front, but they fell 34-25 behind before the forwards took charge again and they had Rosslyn Park seriously rattled at the end.
Depleted Tynedale lost 37-5 at Wharfedale, whose climb away from danger continued with a third successive bonus-point victory.
While Tynedale had two players at the Dubai Sevens, on top of their injury troubles, the hosts were without flanker Aaron Myers, who was with the England Sevens squad.
Playing with the elements in the first half, Wharfedale scored three tries to lead 22-0 and added three more.
Westoe hung on to win 24-21 at home to Bromsgrove in National Two North after the visitors hit the post with a last-minute penalty.
Former Middlesbrough fly half Simon O'Farrell opened and completed the scoring with penalties, his fourth coming with the scores level at 21-21 with six minutes left.
Westoe led 18-6 at the break, both tries coming from long range as No 8 Ollie Stedman intercepted on halfway and centre Lewis Johnston hacked on from 70 metres.
Darlington moved seven points clear at the top of D and N One when they claimed the four-try bonus from a 34-16 win at Novos.
Playing into the wind, Darlington led 15-6 at half-time through No 8 Andy Hodgkins and prop Joe Hargreaves finishing off forward drives, while hooker Rob Goddard touched down after a break by winger Matt Sowerby.
Novos hit back to lead 16-15 before Sowerby raced up the left wing from his own 22 to score. Henry Carver converted the last two tries, scored by Matthew Higgins and Daniel Carter.
Stockton survived a scare at home to Guisborough, who led 12-9 with 12 minutes left but lost 28-12.
Three penalties by Jeremy Good, in reply to an interception try, saw Stockton lead 9-7 at half-time after playing with the slope and the wind. Guisborough scored a good try soon after the restart but finally ran out of steam.
No 8 Scott Powell forced his way over for Stockton, then they got Simon Crozier away on the left wing and flanker Wayne Brown was in support to score. Finally prop Mark Conway was driven over and Good added his second conversion.
*England Women were denied a clean sweep when they had to settle for an 8-8 draw in the final match of the three-Test series against world champions New Zealand at Esher.
England led through a penalty by Darlington Mowden Sharks' Katy McLean, again leading the side on her 50th appearance. But the Black Ferns quickly replied with a try and added a penalty. They led until England substitute Natasha Hunt scored in the 55th minute.
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