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Gutsy Mowden hang on for dour derby double

Darlington Mowden Park 13 - 12 Darlington

By Tim Wellock

AS the tug-of-war continues between these clubs for the services of Craig Lee, another dour derby reinforced the impression that the scrap for the better players can only intensify.

The first few National Three North meetings between these old foes produced contests which suggested the town might sit up and take notice. But it was always feared that both could not continue to progress and the battle for supremacy has produced two stalemates this season.

Mowden will be cock-a-hoop to have edged them both, prevailing through sheer guts on Saturday, but they remain 19 points behind their neighbours and cannot be happy with the overall quality of their play.

It would not be difficult to make out a case for seasoned prop Dave Sinclair being Man of the Match.

Darlington fans would say that merely underlines that it wasn't much of a spectacle, while Mowden would be delighted that the long-serving local character had such an influence.

He used his experience to get away with as much as possible in impeding Darlington's driving maul, which was virtually all they had to offer as they froze on derby day for the second time this season.

Darlington are never quite the same without Martin Howe, who has missed both derbies, but recent form suggested they should still have been able to take care of a severely depleted Mowden side.

As they suffered a second successive one-point defeat, however, Darlington lacked the intensity shown in the fierce battle against Blaydon and when they did try to open up the handling was not up to standard.

Darlington full back Lee Davies had the chance to win it with the last kick of the game, but his conversion attempt from eight metres in from the left touchline was pushed right of the posts.

It was only in the last ten minutes that Darlington hit their stride, scoring tries through half backs Paul Lee and David Andrew.

After playing poorly in the first half, they would have settled for being only 8-0 down when they turned round with the strong diagonal wind in their favour.

But within five minutes they conceded a second try and fell back on the driving maul in an attempt to salvage something.

The frustration produced three yellow cards, while Mowden had two, and perhaps the most surprising one was for Richard Snowball.

Two successive catch-and-drive attempts were impeded by Sinclair going to ground as readily as a Chelsea footballer, and after playing in New Zealand the prop would know that such tactics usually prompt Kiwi opponents to stick the boot in vigorously.

Snowball stood on him and the burly citizen would barely have felt it, but the lock departed for the bin shortly after Mowden's Junior Fagalilo during a fractious period just before half-time.

With Eni Gesinde and Tim Visser required by Newcastle at the Melrose Sevens, Mowden needed to use some tactical nous at the line-out and lacked a cutting edge in midfield.

But they profited from the return of South African Johann Booysen after a three-month injury absence. He started on the right wing and scored the first try after five minutes when he charged down an attempted clearance by Davies.

Anthony Mellalieu added a penalty after 15 minutes, but when he was injured two minutes after half-tine Booysen switched to his usual position of fly half and looked very composed.

It was his chip through from just inside the 22 which allowed replacement Matt Howland to follow up and score.

This was a huge bonus for Mowden as they had to take off Danny Brown at half-time after he had defied injury to play a key role in their defensive effort.

The combative Fagalilo switched from No 6 to hooker with Tim Wilks going off the bench to help maintain the determined resistance.

Darlington sent on Phil Dawson for Del Lewis for the last 25 minutes and they began to get on top midway through the half.

Davies was just short after a good attack into the left corner then they opted for scrums at two successive penalties near the line.

The tactic of wheeling for No 8 Alan Brown to pick up and drive over was thwarted and while Mowden must have been close to conceding a penalty try they could not be blamed for testing the referee's resolve.

Darlington finally got over when they set up another maul following a scrum and Paul Lee was driven over by the posts, Davies converting.

With ten minutes left they were now building some momentum, but it subsided when prop Paul Shepherd was sin-binned for throwing a punch.

Coach Phil Lancaster went on for the next scrum and when impressive Mowden lock Iain Robinson was yellow carded for killing the ball Darlington applied pressure again.

Replacement winger Adam Kibirige was just short after a good attack up the left, then Lancaster almost got to the line.

Right at the death Dawson drove on and offloaded for Andrew to take the ball at pace and crash over.

It was asking a lot for Davies to land the final pressure kick.