Attacks were on top for both Old Albanian and Darlington Mowden Park at Woollams on Saturday but it was the County Durham side who went home with the win in a 35-29 success.

Danny Brown, Darlington’s coach, believed both defences were at fault to a greater or a lesser degree in what turned out to be a fairly stolid match.

“Neither side displayed the urgency we would expect in that area,” he said.

“By contrast both attacks had a better time of it and despite the penalty count, we rattled up 14 crucial points at a vital period of the second half.

“We’re delighted to record two consecutive away bonus-point results.”

Chris Lloyd, OAs scrummage coach, agreed with his opposite number’s summation.

“Both sides were better in attack than defence,” he said. “Darlington took their chances better than we did.”

Defensive frailties were all too evident in an explosive start to the game.

As early as the second minute when Talite Vaioleti sauntered through a hole in the OA rampart for Josh Bragman to convert.

Less than a minute later Harry Bate broke the shackles of a maul close to the visitors’ line and Ben Palmer improved.

Luca Petillo was shown yellow for foul play, still with less than five minutes played and Thomas Bednall benefitted from Jack Daly’s superb delayed pass to cross untouched from close range. Again Palmer was successful with the kick.

Still in the early stages the visitors opted for territory gained by kicking from hand.

Albanians concentrated on ascendancy in the scrum and line-out at least until Adam Radwan shimmied over and Bragman levelled the scores.

Palmer’s penalty was more than cancelled out by the Radwan/Bragman partnership just before the break.

Jack Payne went to the bench soon after the restart and Nick Foster darted over as a result. This time Palmer’s conversion effort misfired.

Matt Heaton took advantage and restored the lead after Albanians fumbled at the base of a scrum with a converted try.

And Radwan completed his hat-trick, incredibly, directly from the restart. Bragman kept his 100 per cent kicking record.

Finally Nick Foster gave his side two bonus points when he rounded a tiring defence close enough for Palmer’s kick.

It wasn’t enough to change the result, however.

OAs travel to Loughborough next Saturday to attempt to avenge the early season defeat. Kickoff is at 2pm.