Darlington MP 31 Cleckheaton 30

Cleckheaton looked safe in this EDF Energy National Trophy first-round match when a 79th-minute Chris Quinn penalty put them 30-17 ahead.

But deep into injury time, Park pushed the visitors back and a long crossfield kick gave Gareth Kerr the chance to score a try, Anthony Mella-lieu converting.

However, with the ball going out on the restart, Park took full advantage with a similar move, except this time it was on the other side of the field.

Winger Jamie Connolly went in for a try and Mellalieu jumped for joy as he converted his winning kick.

It all adds spice for next Saturday's league clash bet-ween the sides at Moorend.

Cleckheaton started well and had points on the board within three minutes.

From a line-out in Park's 22, the Cleckheaton forwards caught and drove to the line for Richard Sawyer to score.

Play was then scrappy, except for good work from Cleckheaton's Geoff Jones and John Bentley, Connolly drifting a penalty wide on the wind.

After defensive duties, Cleckheaton broke into Park's 22 and Alex Drage was un-lucky not to score after a 27th-minute break.

Four minutes later, however, a catch-and-drive move from the forwards gave Oliver Haw-kins a try.

Within two minutes though, Park had pulled seven points back with an easy try from Matt Barker under the posts, Mellalieu converting.

With the forwards and backs working well together, Cleck had another tilt in Park's 22 late in the half, Kestrels player John Oakes scoring his initial first-team try in the corner.

Park looked more urgent in the second half, and pulled three points back via Mella-lieu in the 45th minute, and they got their noses in front for the first time with another penalty five minutes later.

Cleck then replaced both props and the fresh legs had the desired affect.

Strong defending by Park kept them at bay until the 58th minute when Sawyer went on the blindside of a scrum for a try in the corner.

It was only a matter of time before the in-form Sawyer completed his hat-trick and it came in the 69th minute, Bentley converting.

Quinn added the penalty ten minutes later that looked to have put them through.