DARLINGTON Mowden Park will be without scrum half Bruno Bravo for today's National One match at Blackheath.

The Argentinian is suspended for a week following what Mowden felt was a harsh second yellow card for preventing release in last week's defeat at Rosslyn Park.

Matt Walsh, a new signing from Chester, will make his debut and will be partnered at half back by Garry Law, who switched to centre last week to accommodate the return of Grant Connon. But Connon lasted only 29 minutes before colliding with a post protector and will not be risked today.

Blackheath won 47-13 last week at Henley, who won at Mowden the previous week, so it promises to be another tough trip.

However, Mowden lost by only two points when visiting the Kent club last season and piled 50 points on them at home.

Blaydon will be looking to play a tight forward game at Loughborough in an attempt to avoid being given the runaround by the students after conceding seven tries to Wharfedale's backs last week.

Centre Toby Bain is out with concussion and there is a suspicion he took the knock a while before being replaced last week, when the visiting backs had already exposed the defensive frailty.

Fellow centre Tom Small broke an ankle, so Tom Bramwell and Nathan Bailey pair up today, with James Cooney switching to full back and Rob Rekis making his first start on the wing.

Nathan Horsfall comes in at scrum half for Rhodri Adamson, who has damaged ribs.

Billingham are kicking off at 2pm in their home game against Stockport in National Three North. With Danny Dixon unavailable, they switch James Watson to No 8 and bring Liam Armstrong into the second row.

West Hartlepool will be grateful they are entertaining struggling Northern in North One East as they attempt to maintain their unbeaten record with six players absent.

Skipper Dan Boatman is among those at Twickenham so Chris Atkins takes his back row place with Michael Hogan coming in at lock.

All last week's threequarters are missing, so Stu Waites will captain the side from centre with Greg Edwards alongside him. Lewis Wilson and Joe Willis are on the wings.

Middlesbrough's promotion credentials in D and N One will be tested at home to leaders Novos and they bring in Andy Micklewright to parter Rob Bellerby at centre. Jay Ellis comes in at scrum half and Toby Tremlett at blind side.

Stockton visit Consett without several players who prefer to watch the World Cup. The entire front five of the pack has changed, with Mark Conway, Dan Muirhead and Paul Bate making up the front row, with Jonny Cheetham and Lewy Gray behind.

Joe Green and Martin Dixon bolster the back row, Paul Armstrong comes in at scrum half, Dan Phinn returns at full back and Rob Graham is on the wing.

Two teams desperate for their first wins are Darlington, at home to Gosforth, and Hartlepool Rovers, who should get off the mark at home to Ponteland.

With former Mowden players preferring to bypass Darlington and play for Barnard Castle, the possibility is emerging that Barney could leapfrog their more illustrious neighbours.

They lie second in division two and will hope to make it four wins out of four at home to Bishop Auckland.