Superb South Shields see off Darlington

Shields started into the wind, heading up the slope and the opening 30 minutes was an attritional period.

Full-back Ian Arkley was shown a yellow card and Darlington opened the scoring on the 32 minute mark with a simple drive off a ruck close to the Shields line.

After a number of tactical changes, Shields took the game back to Darlington from the off seeing Mark Walker score resulting from sustained, aggressive pressure. Gary Bates added the conversion for a 7-5 lead at half-time.

Clayton Fox added another try for Shields as they began to control the game, throwing a dummy to open up a huge gap for the skipper to dive over. Again, Bates added the extras and excelled at No 10 with some outstanding tactical kicking.

A further two second half tries were scored firstly via a textbook training ground move involving Fox, Dan McKay and scorer Louis Kellett and then through unbelievable link up play between Carlos Mut Morei, Jonah Mcintyre and then scorer Alex Welland to wrap up a bonus point.

Martin Bengston was awarded the Opus Essence sponsored man of the match award by the home team, pipping Mut Morei. He was awesome in attack creating many opportunities and instrumental in defence.

Shields now move onto a vital home game with Blyth next weekend.

South Shields Mariners were also victorious beating Ponteland Pythons 15-5 in a close fought game at South Tyneside College.