DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK will use tomorrow's charity match against the Gorillas to take a look at several young Barnard Castle players.

The match, kicking off at noon at Kingston Park, is a curtain-raiser for Newcastle Falcons v Wasps and will raise money for the 1820 Foundation.

The Gorillas are the Foundation's rugby team and their chief purpose is to help ex-military personnel who are struggling to make the transition to civilian life.

The 32 Engineer Regiment provide players for the team, along with several North-East clubs, including Mowden, Westoe, Gosforth, Northern, Middlesbrough and Billingham.

The coach is former Westoe, Blaydon and Falcons centre James Fitzpatrick, while Mowden skipper Gareth Nesbit is heavily involved.

He will not play tomorrow as he has missed the last two games with a neck injury, but he hopes to be fit for Mowden's home match against Fylde next Saturday.

Among the current and ex-soldiers in the Gorillas squad are Nesbit's former Westoe team-mates, Mark and Craig Olugbode, who have played for Nigeria, Middlesbrough duo Connor Foley and Iain Bradford, plus Billingham's Dan Burns.

There is a strong link between Mowden and Barnard Castle through Luke Monument, Junior Fagalilo and Chris McTurk, who have helped Barney to go through the season with one defeat.

Those who are in the Mowden squad tomorrow are Adam and Lucas Kicks, Tom Hunter, Tim Mackey, Josh Waldren and Jamie Preston.

Mowden first teamers who will appear for part of the game are props Ralph Appleby, Darren Fearn and Tom Harrison, lock Talite Vaioleti and backs Matt Walsh, Bruno Brave, Jake Woodhouse and Jamie Barnard. Veteran winger Mike Wood is also in the squad.

Tickets for the Falcons v Wasps match, with £5 going to the charity, are available by visiting www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk , calling 0871 226 60 60 or from Kingston Park in person. The telephone hotline and ticket office are open from 10am to 4pm today and from 9am tomorrow.

*Mowden Park have announced that Italy A flanker Luca Petillo has signed to stay for a second season.

Director of Rugby Danny Brown said: “Luca has shown outstanding commitment even when injured. He is a destructive tackler and is developing hugely as a player. We are looking forward to working with him again.”

*Former Mowden and Newcastle back row man Alex Gray is back in the England Sevens squad for Hong Kong, where they play South Africa, Scotland and Russia in the pool stages on April 8-10.

Head Coach Simon Amor said: “It is an interesting year as our focus has to be on what is right for both England Sevens and Team GB preparations for the Olympic Games.”