It looks like Mowden Park need to score at least 40 points each game to ensure a victory home or away, such is the defensive performance or lack of it on matchday.

This was evident at The Darlington Arena at the weekend against a very spirited Sheffield Tigers outfit, who thoroughly deserved the win.

It was Mowden who got off to a flying start and were up 17 – 3 in the first quarter of the game with three good tries from Jacob BUTTERILL, Simon UZOKWE and Tom LARDER, one of which was converted by Flynn WARD, to Tigers solitary penalty from William Baker. (17 – 3)

That was about as good as it got for Mowden who squandered that impressive start and by oranges, they had slumped to a 17 – 24 reversal, as Tigers responded with three tries of their own, via Tom Calladine, Dominic Santamaria and Barney Goatley, all converted by fly half Baker. (17 – 24)

Not that Tigers showed anything outstanding in their response, more of a catalogue of unnecessary penalties, poor tackling and a lack of collective cohesion from Mowden, which unfortunately continued after the break.

Tigers the time started fast and each time Mowden transgressed, Tigers took advantage, with Baker landing another two penalties. (17 – 30)

A decent incursion by Mowden found home winger Shaun McCARTNEY bludgeoning his way over the visitors line for a try, (22 – 30), converted by WARD (24 – 30) and a WARD penalty, (27 – 30), brought them back to within any score to level.

However, from the kick off, where the Tigers chasers were clearly at least five metres ahead of the kicker, they took they the ball cleanly and winger Jamie Rudd showed blistering pace to evade all would be tackers, who did themselves no justice in their attempts to halt his progress, allowing him to score under the posts, (27 – 35),and almost immediately Tigers pulled away again, with Baker’s easiest conversion of the day. (27 – 37).

This deflated Mowden’s short momentum and as the game entered the final minutes, Tigers pulled further ahead with a final try for replacement James Norman (27 – 42), to seal the win, celebrated by the visitors as if their life’s had depended on it.

Granted, Tigers deserved their victory, but after their initial promise, Mowden unfortunately deserved what they got, only one point from the encounter, with some Mowden players needing a long, hard look at their own individual performances, both in attack and surprisingly in defence.

Harsh comments perhaps, as they are a predominantly young squad, depleted somewhat with some long-term injuries to senior players. However, the basics are sadly lacking and this needs to be addressed to buoy up their dedicated following to halt the decline of a very promising start to the season.

A chance to recover perhaps, with another home game at The Darlington Arena, this Friday night, against Wharfedale RFC, who also have had a mixed season so far.

COME ON YOU PARK !!