Admittedly, it was against a side floundering at the bottom of North One.

But had the Shieldsmen been as slick and sure-handed the two previous weeks, they would in all probability have come away from Morley and Middlesbrough with two points in the bag instead of none.

Those slip-ups after 13 consecutive wins meant that championship rivals Hull and Sheffield Tigers were snapping at their heels.

They kept up the pressure on Saturday with home victories against Morley and West Hartlepool respectively.

With just four games remaining, Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Westoe know they have entered the home straight with automatic promotion into national rugby as the prize, and can't afford to stumble again.

In purposeful mood, captain Gareth Nesbit declared: "We achieved our twin objectives, to win and win well.

"There was a lot that was good about our play, both as a team and individually, but it is done and dusted.

"Now it is back to hard training, and our focus has shifted entirely on to our next game." Which is at home to third-bottom Cleckheaton this weekend.

Nesbit and the team coaches will certainly be happy with the classy debut of fly-half Ashley Moeke, a young New Zealander studying at Northumbria University, and overall the team seemed more settled and cohesive than of late.

They got off to a sparkling start right from the kick-off when scrum-half Chris Judson booted the ball into the home team 22, where Westoe were awarded a penalty and opted for a scrum, from which flanker Ryan Foster burst over, Moeke kicking the first of his three conversions.

It was from another scrum on the quarter hour, given after the ball had been held up over the try line, that prop Raymie Elliott powered his way to five more points.

Soon afterwards, with Darlington driven deep into their own half, came a third try from an artful lineout ploy.

Hooker Peter Tennet's throw-in was grabbed by lofty lock Paul Bird, who off-loaded instantly to No 8 Graeme Smith, and his precision pass back to Tennet gave him a free run, with defenders caught utterly unawares.

After a Moeke penalty, there came clever inter-passing down the left wing – featuring Bird, Nesbit, Tennet and centre David Haswell – before flanker Kerry Wood finished the job off with his ninth try of the campaign.

Then winger Willy Moala characteristically dodged his way past defenders to float a lobbed pass unerringly to full-back John McFarlane at full tilt to touch down beside the right corner flag and give his side a 30-0 lead at the interval.

Westoe seemed to ease up after the resumption and some sloppiness brought Darlington more into the game, though they never really threatened.

Then Moala scored after a strong burst by Haswell, carried on by fellow centre James Fitzpatrick, and it was back to serious business.

Lock John Younghusband was gifted a try from a 5m lineout when the home defence seemed to freeze, after which, in the dying minutes came the eighth and most spectacular of all when the irrepressible Moala tapped the ball over the head of one defender, snatched it from the grasp of another and then ran half the length of the field to touch down.

A fitting way to cap a fine victory.

* It took the Seconds the first quarter to settle down and score in their Northumberland League game against visitors Berwick – but thereafter they took control and ran out 63-15 winners as the pack gave good ball to backs who were too artful for their opponents.

Tries were scored by centre Mark Olugbode and flanker John Dye (two each), fly-half Graham Tiffin, wingers James Walker and Craig Olugbode, flanker Johnny Thompson, full-back Laurie Bridgett and his replacement, Adam Thompson. Fly-half Chris Laycock kicked five conversions and a penalty.

* The Thirds reached the final of their Durham County Cup competition, which they won last year, with a 12-0 victory at Winlaton, winger Paul Hagan scoring all the points with two tries and a conversion. They will face Horden, who beat West Hartlepool, for the trophy.

* The Fourths – formerly the Senators – will have to relinquish the Durham County Shield they have won for the past seven years after going down 11-7 at Barnard Castle.

But theirs was a most remarkable record which is never likely to be equalled.

There was a setback when fly-half Richard Elliott – a key man – cried off through sickness, but in a hard-fought game they were ahead through a try by Grant Parkin, converted by Andrew Tiffin, until the last three minutes. Then the home team were awarded two penalties and so snatched victory.

Manager Lol Calvert, a Senators stalwart, said: "It has been a proud and historic achievement which had to end some time. But we have the satisfaction of knowing we went down fighting."