DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK maintained their 100 per cent start to 2015 as they edged out mid-table rivals Esher in a game that exploded into life in the second half at The Northern Echo Arena.

Mowden ran out 30-22 winners in a game that saw all six tries come in the final 40 minutes, as well as five yellow cards and a brawl that reflected fraying tempers on both sides.

There was no sign of the drama that was to come in a somewhat low-key first half that saw Mowden claim a 9-3 interval lead courtesy of three penalties from fly-half Grant Connon.

However, things cranked up straight after the interval with home flanker Joe Maud sin binned for an infringement close to his own try line and Esher exploiting their man advantage as skipper Ian Kench crossed to score.

Mowden responded almost immediately though as Cameron Mitchell intercepted an errant pass on the halfway line and ran in unopposed.

Connon’s conversion made it 16-10, and Mowden extended their lead when a slick passing move ended in Henry Robinson playing in Callum McKenzie, who scythed through the Esher defence to score.

A melee shortly after the hour mark resulted in lock Ben Gledhill being sin-binned, but two Esher yellow cards left Mowden facing 13 men and the hosts quickly claimed a third try as Australian debutant Andrew Cox crashed over from close range.

Connon’s extras made it 30-10, and while Matt Thompson’s trip to the sin bin coincided with Esher adding two late tries, the hosts held out for another notable victory which leaves them in seventh position, comfortably in the top half of the table.

“When we sat down as a squad over Christmas, we talked about our goals and set ourselves the target of winning all four of our January games,” said first-team coach Danny Brown. “We’ve done that now and we’re happy with the way things have been going.

“Esher were very strong opponents, and it probably took a little bit of time for us to work out how best to break them down. We started to do that a bit towards the end of the first half, and all credit to the lads, they really pulled it out in the second half.

“We’re going into a tough period now with away games coming up against Hartpury College and Fylde, who are two of the more in-form teams in the league. We’ll go into them with nothing to lose though, and the boys have shown they can live with anyone in this league.”

Tynedale’s relegation worries intensified as they suffered a 22-20 defeat to National One’s bottom club Macclesfield.

The result, which saw Tynedale score tries through Richard Miller and Fraser McKenna (2), leaves the Northumberland club in major trouble at the foot of the table.

Blaydon also suffered a defeat at the weekend, going down 20-15 at Rosslyn Park despite tries from Jason Smithson and Tom Bramwell.

In Durham and Northumberland One, Darlington’s poor recent run continued as they suffered a 52-7 defeat at the hands of Ryton, while in Durham and North Two, Acklam kept their promotion push on track with a 24-7 win at Bishop Auckland.