Boro cling on to play-off hopes but the Tigers are tamed again

MIDDLESBROUGH scraped a five-point victory over Cleckheaton to keep alive their faint hopes of promotion.

Fifth in the table, Middlesborough can still mathematically make second spot and a play-off for promotion to National Two (North) but it is a huge task.

The hosts edged the first half 5-0 with both sides trying to play open rugby, but Middlesbrough were the only ones to score in an even first 40 minutes, hooker Richard Horton touching down in the final minute.

Cleckheaton had the better of the first 20 minutes of the second period, and stand-off Ian Gordon chipped away at Middlesbrough's lead with a 57th-minute penalty, before giving them a narrow lead with another kick four minutes later as Middlesbrough struggled to cope while a player was in the sin-bin.

However, when they were back to full strength, the home side regained the lead with captain and scrum-half Peter Wright taking a short penalty and running 35 yards to score on 65 minutes, although the conversion was again missed.

Their third try came on 73 minutes with Wright on the end of a good flowing move and they secured a bonus point with their fourth try, which came in the 79th minute from Horton, who barged over.

Sheffield Tigers 8

Darlington Mowden Park 19

SHEFFIELD Tigers slipped further off the pace when they suffered a disappointing home defeat to rivals Darlington Mowden Park.

Now eighth in the table and level with their rivals on 47 points, Tigers began well enough and led 8-0 at the break.

Stand-off Tom Outram kicked a penalty on six minutes to put the South Yorkshire side ahead, and right winger Gareth Morley touched down on 16 minutes. Despite the conversion being missed, they defended well and maintained a clean sheet up to the break.

However, Mowden Park tightened up and starved Tigers of possession after the interval.

They opened their account after just three minutes of the second half through a try from left winger Robin Eatough, which was converted by stand-off Ritchie Young.

When replacement flanker Cameron Pearson touched down shortly after the hour mark, the visitors were 12-8 ahead.

Tigers pushed hard but Darlington defended confidently and they added a try, replacement scrum-half Todd Harrison scoring in stoppage time and Young adding the extras.