In what was literally the proverbial ‘game of two halves’. Mowden turned a first half deficit into a 5-point bonus win, leaving Billingham RFC with a solitary try bonus point for their whole-hearted endeavours. In a first half dominated by the referee’s whistle, seeing 3 Mowden players yellow carded in a bizarre 3-minute period just prior to oranges, the home side emerged from the changing rooms after the break, with a steely resolve and more determined mindset to turn the tide from a 10 – 23 deficit, to a 45 – 35 win.

Mowden fell foul of the controlling official from the outset, conceding numerous penalties, with offside being the predominant offence.

This benefitted a very grateful Billingham side, who were first to register, with a try from hard-working flanker and former Mowden player Nathan Myers, who was prevalent all afternoon. (0 – 5)

Two well taken penalties from visiting centre Luke Wilson (0 – 11) were added, as Mowden struggled to settle down and conform to the official.

Billingham’s bulky tight-head prop Kieran Clark rumbled over from short range for their second try, as the game entered the second quarter, with, at that time, still no response from the home side. (0 -16)

In a rare visit to Billingham’s red zone, Mowden finally registered after a period of try-line pressure. With lock Kieran FORBES crashing over near the posts after some physical forward interplay (5 – 16), fly-half Flynn WARD successful with the afters. (7 – 16)

Billingham immediately responded, laying siege to the Mowden line, heralding the bizarre series of yellow cards for Mowden in the 3-minute period, with first lock Talite VAIOLETI, then returning centre Garry LAW and finally No. 8 Simon UZOKWE, all sent to the ‘cooler’, reducing Mowden to 12 players.

Unsurprisingly, just as UZOKWE left the field, Billingham maintained the pressure on the home line, with winger Eldon Myers dotting down wide out (7 – 21), with Wilson converting. (7 – 23)

Things looked ominous for Mowden, but Billingham failed to utilise their numerical advantage with a series of wrong options and Mowden’s 12 men managed to conjure a penalty from WARD (10 – 23), in the only score before the break.

It was clear that the half-time team talk for the home side had hit the spot, as Mowden emerged a different side and it didn’t take long for them to assert their new found dominance, when centre and skipper Liam CHECKSFIELD led the way, scoring early (15 – 23), with WARD adding the conversion from wide out. (17 – 23)

Hooker turned flanker Harrison WOOD was next to register soon after (22 – 23) and with WARD successful with the afters (24 – 23) , Mowden edged ahead for the first time in the game.

Billingham, although visibly shocked by Mowden’s improving play, did not capitulate and responded with a try from lock Laughlan HILL (24 – 28), converted by WILSON (24 – 30) taking them back into the lead.

The next 10 minutes saw the lead seesaw with first home scrum half Ben DOUGLAS scoring (29 - 30), converted by WARD (31 – 30). Billingham replied with a try from winger Joseph Scarborough. (31 – 35)

Although Billingham fought to the end, Mowden’s next two scores from fullback Reuben DYER and another from Harrison WOOD, both converted by Garry LAW (45 – 35) proved too much and in the end, Mowden took a deserved win on the day.