Blaydon head for Cornwall (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Blaydon head for Cornwall

9:50am Saturday 20th September 2008

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BLAYDON fly to Plymouth this morning en route to their National Two match at Redruth still waiting for Newcastle Falcons scrum half Micky Young to make his debut.

After being loaned to them he was selected for last week’s game against Tynedale but dropped out through illness and today he is playing for the Rest of the World XV in the Help For Heroes match at Twickenham.

Gavin Charlton defied a virus to don the No 9 shirt at the last minute last week, but as he is still feeling ill Blaydon are taking a gamble on James Clark’s versatility.

With Clark’s twin, Chris, at full back half the team are ex- Mowden Park players, including another debutant in lock Chris Wearmouth.

He gets his chance alongside Dave Whitehead because Sean Tomes has a back injury and skipper Dave Guthrie is on crowd control duty at the Sunderland v Middlesbrough match.

Full back Adam Dehaty is ruled out by the rib injury he suffered last week and with another potential match-winner, winger Brendon Daniel, still suffering knee problems this will be a tough test for Blaydon after winning their first two games.

Students Stephen Trench and Darren Fearn are among the forward replacements and Director of Rugby Nick Gandy is also on the bench.

Tynedale entertain Wharfedale and hope to welcome back Greg Irvin after nine months out, but skipper Jamie Murray is still on the casualty list, along with James Hoyle, Ben Duncan, Eni Gesinde, Stuart Johnson and Ali Gray.

In National Three North Darlington Mowden Park visit Loughborough Students, who have lost their first two games following promotion.

Mowden bring in stalwart prop Dave Sinclair and switch coach Peter Taylor from back row to lock, with Dan Miller and Andy Harston dropping to the bench.

Former Durham School pupil Richard Ellis, a specialist open side, comes into the back row and John Newton continues at scrum half with Martin Lithgo ruled out by the shoulder injury he suffered last week.

The other casualty from the win against Caldy, Ben Snook, is named on the bench with Gavin Painter starting at full back.

Middlesbrough, still without Paul Lee, have lost last week’s goal-kicking fly half Simon Moore for six weeks with a broken cheekbone.

Simon O’Farrell deputises for the visit of West Park St Helens, while Andy Micklewright and Peter Homan come in on the wings for Danny Poole and Ben Wood.

Chris Webb returns at lock for Andy Hutchinson, who is on the bench.

After opening with a home win against Boro last week, West Hartlepool are unchanged for the trip to Stockport.

Darlington visit relegated Beverley with 17-year-old Nick Baldwin, son of former club captain Brian Baldwin, making his debut at fly half.

Luke Murphy and Tom Bivens are on the wings and Mike Stowe replaces unavailable hooker Rob Goddard.

Coach Kevin Robinson was pleased with the performance of 6ft 8in lock Chris Oakley last week, but unhappy with the work at the breakdown.

Darlington conceded 14 turnovers in the home defeat by Birkenhead Park, and with a visit from title favourites Hull coming up next week they need an improvement today.

After going close at Gosforth last week, Stockton hope to open their D and N One account when they host Ryton, who won their opening game by one point against Consett.

In North Two East, Billingham visit Durham City without the injured Paul Woodhouse and Andrew Evans, who is working. Joe and Peter Evans will be sharing the half back roles, while Daniel Youdale comes in for the unavailable Mark Schiller.

Stockton’s list of absentees has been lengthened by centre Peter Armstrong (injured rib), full back Matt Taylor (knee) and fly half Jeremy Good, who is away.

Their replacements are Paul Murphy, Matt Brown and the experienced Graham Kell, while back row man Scott Powell hopes to be fit after injuring his foot in the first 15 minutes last week.

Paul Mallory also forces his way into the back row with Andrew Elkins reverting to the bench.

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