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DARLINGTON Mowden Park's hopes of including Newcastle Falcons' Peter Browne in today's home match against Rugby Lions were dashed when he went down with gastric flu yesterday.

The 6ft 7in Durham University student impressed in two appearances in Mowden's back row during the autumn.

Injury and Newcastle Development XV duties intervened before he was selected for England Students, but Mowden planned to play him in their final two National Three North matches.

As they are three points ahead of Fylde, two wins, even without the four-try bonus points, will be enough to clinch a promotion play-off at Cinderford in two weeks.

"We have missed Phil Dawson since his shoulder operation, so it would have been good to have Peter in the team," said Director of Rugby Andy Howells.

"The Falcons have made him available to us for the rest of the season. We have a good relationship with them and hopefully we can use some of their players next season. But that will all depend on finance.

"There's a really good spirit in this team and I'd love to take them into National Two. We might have to change our game a bit because the defeat at Macclesfield showed we don't have a team that can play in the rain and mud.

"We've picked a very mobile team again, so hopefully the conditions will suit us in the last two games."

The team is unchanged, with Charlie Rayner and Iain Dixon on the wings and Ben Snook at full back. But Howells hopes that Chris Clark and Gareth Kerr might be fit for next week's trip to Morley.

Clark and his twin, James, are the team's joint leading try scorers.

The fact that they have only nine shows that the load has been shared around as Mowden have been a high-scoring team for most of the season.

Rugby are eighth in the table and have nothing to play for, so Mowden can expect a much tougher test at Morley. The consolation is that Fylde finish their programme at Tynedale, who are an incredible 29 points clear at the top and entertain Preston Grasshoppers today.

Blaydon are without full back Ralph Smith, a trainee doctor, for the trip to Wharfedale and as he is being posted to Oxford he has only the games against Southend and Westcombe Park in which to make a farewell appearance. His place goes to Simon Barber, who switches from the wing but has played at full back for Morpeth.

Ben Mercer comes in on the wing and Gavin Charlton returns from army duties to solve the scrum half dilemma.

Newcastle's Adam Dehaty and Eni Gesinde return at centre and blind side, with Andy Wright playing at open side.

Although Andrew Archibald and Fred Burdon are on the bench, plans to give more game time to youngsters have been shelved for the moment as the under-19s go to Bishops Stortford tomorrow for their national plate semi-final.

Darlington must win at Sheffield Tigers to stay two points ahead of the three teams below them in North One, who are all at home and have superior points differences.

With three to do down, it looks unlikely that Altrincham Kersal and Liverpool St Helens will win both their remaining games, but there is every chance that Penrith will do so.

They entertain Cleckheaton today then finish at Middlesbrough, who will not have played for three weeks as today's scheduled visit of Birkenhead Park has been postponed until April 26 because of the Merseysiders involvement in the EDF Intermediate Cup final.

Darlington welcome back Byron Kramer at open side, allowing Steve Taylor to revert to the second row, where he will be partnered by Chris Palesci in the absence of Dave Hinchley.

Chris Oakley provides back-up on the bench, where he is joined by Alex Lineton as Adam Kibirige is preferred on the wing.

Only the top three teams have won at Sheffield this season, but among them are Westoe, who Darlington pushed so close in last week's Durham Cup final.

10:26am Saturday 12th April 2008

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