After their long trip for a revised game in the North East, the visitors trailled 5-0 at half time to a long-range breakaway try, but Tarleton’s influence on the game gradually grew and eventually they were able to score four second-half tries to secure the win, although Middlesbrough ensured that the match went to the wire.

With eight Lancashire county players in their ranks, as well as being the current Lancashire champions and eventual runners-up in the Halbro Colts league, Tarleton have real pedigree of their own and their semi-final opponents in the Cup, Altrincham Kersal, will be expecting a stiff test when Tarleton pay them a visit on March 16.

Man of the match for the winners was Andrew Fishwick, who had a great game and defended his line with strength and intelligence. Scrum-half James Smith also had an outstanding game and dominated the play with his strength and decision making.

Penrith, who under the colours of QEGS Penrith, won a place in the final of the Daily Mail Schools Under 18 Vase on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Reigate Grammar, were due to compete the first round of the Cup section when they entertained Percy Park on Sunday, but the Northumberland side collected a string of injuries in a friendly last weekend and have given their Cumbrian opponents a walk-over.

Results and draw:

Cup: Altrincham Kersal 11 Otley 5, Middlesborough 17 Tarleton 22, Penrith w/o Percy Park March 9, Guisborough 24 Stockport 27.

Plate: Wirral 20 Leigh 5, West Hartlepool 15 Ripon 15 (West Hartlepool won on try count), Old Rishworthians w/o Liverpool Collegiate, Lymm 41 Carlisle 7.

Bowl: Thornensians 19 Widnes 13, Billingham 12 Wetherby 46, Blaydon 25 Aldwinians 7, Sandbach 20 Sheffield 23.

Shield: Heaton Moor 12 Keswick 17, Port Sunlight 16 Barnsley 17, Baildon 0 Darlington Mowden Park 26, Pontefract 29 Waterloo 5.

Divisional Semi-finals (March 16)

Cup: Altrincham Kersal v Tarleton, Penrith v Stockport.

Plate: Wirral v Wetherby, Blaydon v West Hartlepool, Old Rishworthians v Lymm.

Bowl: Thornensians v Sheffield.

Shield: Keswick v Barnsley, Darlington Mowden Park v Pontefract.