Darlington Mowden Park 57 Preston Grasshoppers 35: Hoppers beaten on the road
Preston Grasshoppers’ spirited second-half performance wasn’t enough as they lost to Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday.
Hoppers’ coach Dan Orwin said afterwards that everything went against his side in the first half but their second-half display ‘was something they can build on’.
His players were looking to build on their win last time out against Wharfedale.
However, they didn’t do themselves any favours at Darlington Arena, where the hosts’ Jacob Butterill opened the scoring with a nice feint in the first minute.
The visitors, nevertheless, levelled matters at 7-7 just minutes later as Harry Holden – with the help of his team-mates – powered over following a lineout.
DMP showed their class for the remainder of the half, applying consistent pressure on the Hoppers and forcing them into an array of penalties.
Tries from Jacob Oliver, Harrison Wood and Liam Checksfield’s double, along with a hat-trick of conversions from Flynn Ward, gave the high-flying Mowden Park players a 38-7 lead at half-time.
Darlington then started the second half as they ended the first, with Butterill going over for his second try of the afternoon and increasing their lead to 43-7.
Orwin’s side responded by rattling off three tries of their own without reply to secure a well-deserved bonus point.
The first of the trio was a penalty try awarded to Hoppers after some consistent pressure on the Darlington line.
Ed Keohane then ensured the visitors built on that score when he crossed the home line.
Their bonus point was secured when full-back – and Hoppers’ man of the match – Sam Freeman touched down after some nice play with wingers Jacob Browne and Jack Roberts.
Freeman successfully converted all three of those tries in reducing the Hoppers’ deficit to just 15 points.
Darlington Mowden Park ended any chance of a comeback with Simon Uzokwe and Harrison Wood both scoring injury-time tries to put the cherry on top of an impressive home performance.
There was still time though for Hoppers to register an injury-time consolation try of their own, when Browne’s consistent work ethic finally rewarded him with a well-earned score.