Mowden Park fell to a defeat at the hands of league leaders Rams on Saturday in a high scoring game at the Darlington Arena. A ten minute first half spell saw the visitors run in 4 tries to race to a big early lead, with Mowden falling short of a four-try bonus point late on.

Mowden started the better of the two sides, with Matt Minogue narrowly missing a 40m penalty attempt in the early stages. Then came the Rams onslaught, with the visitors showing their attacking quality to wrap up the bonus point in quick time. First Tarek Haffar dotted down out wide, before an individual effort from the lively Ollie Allan at scrum half. A third followed minutes later when Axel Kalling-Smith finished well in the corner, and things went from bad to worse for the hosts when Kalling-Smith latched onto a crossfield kick to score his second in as many minutes. Mowden looked stunned, but responded brilliantly to claw themselves back into the game. First Chris McTurk dived over in the corner after Joe Craggs gathered the kick off, before Henry Hadfield finished brilliantly to power over close to the posts. Minogue converted both first half scores, and the breathless nature of the first 40 continued when Rams fly half Alex Seers scored his side's fifth. Mowden finished the half on the front foot, with Will Partington sent to the sin bin on the eve of half time after a break from McTurk.

Mowden started the second half with a man advantage, but they were unable to capitalise as Rams stretched further clear through powerful centre Connor Hayhow who broke through in midfield to score his side's sixth. Mowden's standout player Ben Frankland then gave his side hope of a 4 try bonus, weaving through the Rams defence before feeding Callum Pascoe for DMP's third. A well constructed try for Rams winger Jak Rossiter followed, putting the result beyond any doubt heading into the final quarter. An error-strewn final 20 saw chances for both sides, and Mowden thought they had snatched a point late on when Josh Crickmay burrowed for the line only for the ball to be held up. Rams defended well to see out an impressive win based on the foundations of a clinical first half display.

DMP are back at the Arena in a week's time when they take on Hull in a 3pm kick off in their rearranged round 14 clash.