JOIN US FOR LUNCH
Our pre-match Christmas Lunch prior to this Saturday’s match is now FULLY BOOKED.
Our Pre-Match Lunches prior to the next home match against Sheffield Tigers match on January 17th 2026, and other matches in 2026 can, however, now be booked.
CLICK HERE to see full details and book your place(s).

FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS

As well as what promises to be a real Christmas cracker of a match there’s plenty of festivities going on at Tynedale Park this Saturday – starting from 12 noon and going on until late.
CLICK HERE to view details

NEW MATCH E-PROGRAMME

We are pleased to launch our new digital Match E‑Programme which is in addition to our outstanding matchday physical programme.

To access the programme, click on the link below or scan the QR Code.

https://www.zee-on.com/gamehubplus/tynedale-vs-darlington-mowden-park

TYNEDALE RFC v DARLINGTON MP
Saturday 20th December 2025 (KO 2pm)

WELCOME TO TYNEDALE PARK
This Saturday we welcome all players, officials and supporters from Darlington Mowden Park, who make the short journey to take on our 1stXV and Raiders in what are sure to be close, competitive derby matches. We hope everyone associated with the club enjoys their day at Tynedale Park.

We also, of course, extend a warm welcome to this week’s match officials.

To EVERYBODY - Enjoy your day!

DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK HISTORY
Things started in 1946 when the Old Boys of Darlington Queen Elizabeth Grammar School - mostly ex-forces - played some scratch games at the end of the 1945/46 season, and began the 1946/47 season as a properly constituted Club.
Players changed at the school and played the games on the school field, whilst business and social activities took place in the Kings Head Hotel.

A combination of pre-war stalwarts and a growing stream of first-class school leavers produced a very successful side. winning the Durham County Third and Second Team cups in successive years (1949 and 1950) and so the club then gained Senior status..

In due course it was felt the club should have its own Club House facilities, and in 1955 rooms were converted above Williamsons Garage in Woodland Road, into cosy, if somewhat cramped quarters.
In due course the rooms became too small, and spurred on by the threat of a sagging floor, the club searched for alternative premises.
In 1958, during the course of a pork pie supper at the Boot and Shoe, the Committee agreed to purchase a property in Victoria Road. This was a large terraced house on three floors, with a good cellar, which was transformed into a grand Club House.
During the stay in Victoria Road Darlington celebrated its 21st Anniversary, became an open club, and started a Colts Section. They were almost the last Club in the North East to "go open" but as soon as more and more school leavers went on to higher education, and did not return to the area, the source of players was drying up.

By the end of the Sixties circumstances were conspiring to shape the club’s future. The building of the Inner Ring Road meant they would lose the Club House and the projected re-organisation of Education in Darlington cast doubts on the long term future on the School field..
After exhaustive searches around Darlington, the Committee had the chance to buy the ground at Yiewsley Drive.
It was then thought appropriate, not least because they were no longer an "Old Boys Club", to change the name to Mowden Park RFC. This had always had the disadvantage of not being obviously connected to the town of Darlington, so later this became Darlington Mowden Park RFC.

In late 2012 Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Football Club sold their ground at Yiewsley Drive to a housing developer and with the proceeds bought the empty Darlington Arena. The Club played its first game at the Arena in March 2013, and Tynedale’s first visit was for that match in Feb 2015 mentioned earlier.

TYNEDALE V DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK MATCHES

From September 2001 until January 2008 the clubs played each other in league matches 14 times:-
2001-2002 - Tynedale 3 DMP 15
2001-2002 - DMP 26 Tynedale 25
2002-2003 - DMP 31 Tynedale 18
2002-2003 - Tynedale 23 DMP 17
2003-2004 - Tynedale 13 DMP 14
2003-2004 - DMP 34 Tynedale 20
2004-2005 - Tynedale 30 DMP 18
2004-2005 - DMP 18 Tynedale 11
2005-2006 - Tynedale 14 DMP 16
2005-2006 - DMP 7 Tynedale 11
2006-2007 - DMP 37 Tynedale 29
2006-2007 - Tynedale 67 DMP 3
2007-2008 - Tynedale 19 DMP 8
2007-2008 - DMP 14 Tynedale 35
8 wins to Darlington Mowden Park; 6 wins to Tynedale.

Tynedale finished league champions in 2007-2008, and were promoted, with Darlington MP runners-up.

In season 2024-2015 the teams met again following DMP's promotion to National League One -
7th Nov. 2014 - Tynedale 19 Darlington MP 53
20th Feb - 2015 Darlington MP 27 Tynedale 18

In Tynedale’s squad for the November 2014 match were, Johnny Cousin, Louis Frankland, Graeme Dunn and Will Miller who are still in the current 1st team squad.
One oddity was that each squad contained a Maddison brother; Barney for Tynedale and Charlie for Darlington.

The match at the Darlington Arena in February 2015 also involved a number of interesting features, and individuals. Firstly. the battle of the Connon brothers at fly-half for each team; with Brett Connon (two penalties and a conversion. 8 points) for Tynedale vying with Grant Connon (try, conversion, penalty 10 points) for the Darlington club.

For Darlington MP the aforementioned Charlie Maddison, ex-Tynedale. and later of Newcastle Falcons, who now is involved with his front-row pal Ralph Appleby in the coaching at Blaydon Rugby Club, played for DMP. Matt Shields, on the bench that day for DMP. on the other hand, coached Tynedale in recent seasons. under Ben Woods.

Brett Connon played briefly for the Darlington club before returning to Newcastle Falcons, where he has starred for the last nine seasons.
Tyne were relegated that season; Darlington Mowden Park finished ninth.

MORE RECENT FIXTURES
Following Tynedale’s relegation in 2015 the two clubs have met each other occasionally in pre-season ‘friendlies’ with DMP having the edge.
Following DMP’s relegation at the end of last season the teams again locked horns in a league match on Friday evening 12th September, at the Arena, in a memorable match with Tynedale winning 48-38. Both sides scored six tries and in a remarkable turn of momentum Tynedale had to hold on for victory after being 48-12 ahead with only 20 minutes to go!

DMP THIS SEASON
Darlington Mowden Park have had a very strong first half of the season following their relegation from National One League and currently sit one place below us in the league, in fourth place with 2 fewer league points.
Following our early season match DMP went on a run of 7 straight victories and have only slipped up in their two most recent matches against then current top two sides.
With the two sides “neck and neck” in the league this festive, derby match is certainly a difficult one to call and DMP will certainly be looking for some form of revenge.

DMP’s league results to date:-
Scunthorpe 29 DMP 61
DMP 38 Tynedale 48
Wharfedale 28 DMP 31
Billingham 26 DMP 36
DMP 33 Otley 27
Sheffield Tigers 24 DMP 28
DMP 54 Rossendale 27
Hull Ionians 17 DMP 36
DMP 57 Preston Grasshoppers 35
Fylde 17 DMP 17
DMP 27 Hull 24
Macclesfield 38 DMP 24
DMP 28 Sheffield 29

DMP WEBSITE
https://www.mowdenpark.com/

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Michael Harris
AR1: Paul Fincken
AR2: Dean Lythgoe

BALL BOYS
Tynedale Under 15’s

WEATHER FORECAST
Dry, light cloud, light south-easterly wind, 7 degrees

OTHER SENIOR FIXTURES THIS SATURDAY
Tynedale Raiders v Darlington MP 2ndXV (1.30pm) – CaNDY1 League
Percy Park Lions v Tynedale Hadrians (1.30pm) - CaNDY 2 North League
Tynedale Centurions – No Fixture
Tynedale Colts – No Fixture

SELECTED SQUADS