Shock of the day as high-flying OEs smashed for six

DMP ................ 41 Old Elth’s ...... 26

OLD ELTHAMIANS arrived at the Darlington Arena as league leaders but the home side had not read the script and produced a thrilling performance, with pace at the centre of an excellent win.

Mowden’s first score came within a minute when Talite Vaiolti broke from a centre-field ruck, backed up by scrum-half Matt Dudman, who handed on to Garry Law who went over near the posts.

Within another five minutes OEs were further behind, when the DMP forwards set up a series of catch and drives, from which home hooker Jordan Poole touched down.

At this stage it was all the home side and no surprise when Mowden scored their third try, when a clearance kick was charged down by lock Joe Craggs and followed up with a pass to centre Callum Mackenzie dive over.

The league leaders were reeling and Mowden asserted their superiority when Law added their fourth and bonus point try, converting his own try in the process.

It was Mowden’s turn to be reduced in numbers on 37 minutes, when flanker George Stokes was sinbinned for foul play.

Just before the break OEs did manage to get over the line for winger George Perkins to add their first points, converted by Thomas White for a halftime score of 28-7.

OEs had to start well and they did, adding their second score within four

minutes of the restart, with hooker Nathan Morris scoring, White converting to bring the score closer.

The next try was to be all important and it was Mowden who provided it when scoring the best try of the match.

It was OEs on the attack in the home five-yard line when the ball was stripped by a defender - a thrilling series of inter-passing the whole length of the field saw Mackenzie bag his second and Mowden’s bonus point try.

Law added a penalty to put Mowden further ahead, when from their own catch and drive lineout, Jay Rudland-Thomas got one back for OEs.

By now it was end-to-end stuff and at this stage OEs grabbed their fourth and bonus point try when winger and the league’s top try scorer Dom Lespierre squeezed into the corner.

The game was brilliantly sealed for the home side when hard tackling and hard running winger Brandon Asher-Wood chipped and gathered the ball, outwitting the visiting defence for his first and Mowden’s sixth - with DMP climbing to eighth.