A bruising clash with visitors Hull RFC yielded four more league points for Mowden on a bitterly cold November afternoon at The Darlington Arena, but at a cost.

As the game edged towards the final quarter, Mowden skipper Joe CRAGGS, ‘heads-up’ tackled one of Hull’s more solid citizens, emerging clutching his arm, in what immediately looked to be serious injury. So it proved to be, a clean break was the outcome, hospitalising Mowden’s influential skipper, with the prospect of surgery to follow in the week ahead and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.

Back to the start of the encounter, it was Mowden who immediately took the game to Hull, with all out attack, resulting in a try after only two minutes, with centre Callum MACKENZIE, scorching over for the opener (5 - 0) and with Flynn WARD adding the extras (7 – 0), things looked gloomy from the outset for the visitors.

However, this proved to be the wake-up call needed for Hull, who rallied from the restart and took the game to Mowden, who prior to the game were a full 12 places ahead of the visitors with the visitors in desperate need of league points.

From a Mowden indiscretion, Hull winger Tom Lineham kicked a penalty to register early points (7 – 3) and as Hull took a grip of the game, this was closely followed by a try from their lock Jose Uriburu (7 – 8), converted by Lineham. (7 – 10)

Surprisingly From their seemingly lowly league position, Hull began to outplay their hosts, through their forwards and some lively contributions from a backline, which included ex-Rotherham full back Joe Cummins.

Hull kicker Lineham registered Hull’s second try (7 – 15), allowing his backline colleague and play-maker Reece Dean to add the conversion. (7 -17)

Mowden needed to be the next to register on the scoreboard and No. 8 Jacob BUTTERILL duly obliged (12 – 17), converted by WARD. (14 – 17).

The game edged towards oranges as Mowden entered a more industrious period, but they were unable to convert pressure into points, as Hull maintained their slender, but deserved lead at the break.

Mowden carried on where they left off, pressurising Hull’s line and after a serious of penalties given against Hull in the red-zone, WARD kicked a penalty to level. (17 – 17)

Then came the Joe CRAGGS injury, which took Mowden aback and from then on honours were even, on, until the game entered the last ten minutes, when Mowden, still probing for what was increasingly likely to be a winning try.

Unfortunately, again, Mowden were rocked with a key injury to lock Luke COULSTON, who also had to leave the field.

Mowden quickly regained their composure and registered with a try by winger James BENT (22 – 17), converted by WARD, (24 – 17) and Mowden breathed a sigh of relief with less than ten minutes remaining.

However, Hull rallied to level the scores, when full back Lineham grabbed his brace (24 – 22), converted by Dean (24 – 24).

With visions of last week’s disappointing draw away at Fylde RFC brought to mind, at this stage, a draw looked to be the result.

However, Mowden went all out for the win and heaped more pressure on the Hull line, resulting in being awarded a kickable penalty.

Again, with two kickable penalties for the win at Fylde fresh in Mowden’s thoughts, as WARD lined up what would be the deciding kick, the crowd looked on anxiously.

Those fears were unfounded, as WARD slotted the penalty with consummate ease (27 – 24) to edge Mowden ahead at a crucial time.

Little time remained, but Mowden saw that time out to claim the spoils, in what was a very close game, with a vital four points added to the league total.

NEXT WEEKEND A BREAK FROM LEAGUE ACTION AND ON RESUMPTION, A DIFFICULT TRIP TO HIGH-FLYING MACCLESFIELD RFC

COME ON MOWDEN