Five games in two weeks and defeats in two of them to nearest rivals Barnard Castle and Consett have left long-time leaders Durham City, having completed their programme, 5 points clear at the top of the Durham & Northumberland 1 League. But the destiny of the title is no longer in their own hands as Consett, with a game in hand to be played on Saturday, could snatch it at the death if they record a bonus-point win away to Gateshead which would consign City to a play-off for promotion to North 1 East against Scarborough, the Yorkshire 1 runners-up.

Tiredness was evident from the start in City’s final league game on Saturday at Hollow Drift. After Horden had led with a try by winger Ben Turnbull after 3 minutes when he latched onto a raking crossfield kick from deep in his own half by stand-off David Heckels, City eventually came to life to control most of the first-half and score 4 tries.

Winger Tom Elliott grabbed the first two with some powerful running, centre Brad Pears got the third and then combined well with winger Sam Heron for the latter to score the fourth. Scrum-half Paul Armstrong converted one of them before Heckels broke to score a fine try for the visitors and converted to keep his side in touch with City at 22 – 12.

But 3 more City tries in the second-half, with Pears getting a further 2 for his hat-trick and No.8 Peter Dent going over from a ruck on the line and Armstrong converting 2 of them, settled the issue emphatically and kept City in the league title hunt.

CITY: Phil Stewart; Tom Elliott, Brad Pears, Craig Dominick, Sam Heron; Arnie Stevenson, Paul Armstrong ©; Tim Mackay, Kenny Reader, Benny Parkinson, Howard Johnson, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Davison, Tom Jones, Peter Dent.

Replacements: Josh Cotton, Andy Kirkup, Colin Hogg.