Darlington Mowden Park secured all 5 points in this full blooded encounter at the Northern Echo Arena, consigning Coventry RFC to their third consecutive defeat.

Third-placed Coventry RFC were full value for their league position (3rd), but the home side always seemed to have the answer behind the scrum.

Although always under pressure in the tight, DMPRFC backs were quicker in thought and deed and always seemed capable of breaking the opposition defensive line.

Having said that, with loan signings from several Premiership clubs, Coventry RFC are a formidable outfit and worthy of their league position.

Their connections may cite too many errors and wrong options as contributory to their defeat, however, the neutral will have observed that DMPRFC absorbed everything that the visitors threw at them and were the better side on the day.

Home fly half Grant CONNON opened the scoring after only two minutes on the clock. DMPRFC attacked down the right hand side and when winger Ben RATH chipped through, it was CONNON who won the race to the line,(5 - 0) going on to convert his own try (7 - 0)

Coventry RFC were quick to respond and when the DMPRFC defensive line were caught offside, the resulting penalty was well struck by their kicker (7 - 3).

They followed this up after a lineout close to the DMPRFC try line. A catch and drive was progressed and a visiting flanker dotted down for the try (7 - 8) and with a successful conversion (7 - 10), Coventry RFC edged ahead.

Both sides mounted attacks and although Coventry looked dangerous, with powerful runs from their two wingers, the home defence always seemed able to cope.

A mazy run from winger Ben RATH was instrumental in DMPRFC's next try and when lock Ben GLEDHILL found himself wide left with ball in hand, he made no mistake diving into the corner (12 - 10), and the lead changed back in favour of the home side.

Coventry managed a penalty before half time (12 - 13), but two Grant CONNON penalties kept DMPRFC's noses ahead at oranges (18 - 13).

Again, on resumption of play, it was DMPRFC who took the initiative and when a burst from one of the strong running Coventry wingers was halted by lock Rob CONQUEST, his quick feed found CONNON and with Henry ROBINSON in support, rapid progress into the opposition half saw winger Tom KILL receive the scoring pass, enabling him to race in under the (23 - 13). CONNON adding the extras (25 - 13).

Although Coventry were still in the hunt, it looked at this stage, that DMPRFC would kick on and win the game, however the sin binning of home hooker Charlie MADDSION appeared to have swung matters the other way.

MADDISON was sin binned for pulling down a Coventry maul en route over the line. Even though the official perhaps should have awarded a penalty try, it matter none, as from the resulting scrum, the Coventry replacement No.8 scored a try anyway (25 - 18).

With a numerical advantage up front, DMPRFC were forced to reshuffle and even more misery was exerted five minutes later, when again the Coventry forwards combined, being rewarded with another quick try from a replacement prop (25 - 23), which was converted (25 - 25) to tie the scores.

Coventry thought that they had taken the lead when their ex- Westoe and Tynedale wing seemed to have latched on to a scoring pass wide out. However, the referees assistant had spotted a forward pass in the build up and the try was chalked off.

There game was in the balance as the clock ticked down, but it always seemed as if it would be the home side who would prevail and so it turned out, as Grant CONNON dummied his way through the defence to score with ten minutes to go (30 - 25) for the try bonus point, converting his own try (32 - 25).

Their was still time for Coventry to reply, however DMPRFC stood firm and in their frustration, Coventry lost a player to the sin bin.

A late fracas led to a red card for Ben GLEDHILL and a yellow card for Henry ROBINSON, who left the field together with a Coventry player who too was yellow carded, but the game was in the bag for DMPRFC