JASON Smithson has left Darlington Mowden Park to join Blaydon and will make his National Two debut in today's match at Henley.

The Newcastle Academy product was recalled from Mowden because of injuries two years ago and appeared in the Premiership before taking up a position last season as Mowden's Club Development Officer.

He retained that post until a few weeks ago but has now decided to take the opportunity of playing a higher level of rugby.

Mowden had high hopes of building a team around the 25-year-old No 8, but he played only 12 matches last season because of injury and also picked up frequent yellow cards.

Blaydon already have an athletic No 8 in Australian Peter Altona, but he might be switched to lock today if Dave Guthrie decides he is not yet ready to return after injury.

After missing the last two games, the skipper travelled with the squad last night confident that he will be able to step in for Paul Clark, who is on RAF duty in Scotland. There is also a slight doubt about the other lock, Dave Whitehead, who has had a dead leg.

Blaydon have made another signing this week in centre Ben Mercer, a Newcastle student who has impressed in the second team.

He is also in today's squad, giving them the option to switch David Manuel from centre to fly half. Former Henley player Dominic Shaw is likely to be at scrum half as Blaydon await the first appearance of the season of Gavin Charlton, who is playing for the Falcons Under-19s against Holland tomorrow.

Other than deciding to leave Scott Riddell on the bench, Mowden have been spared most of the anticipated difficult back row decisions for the trip to Harrogate.

Ed Williamson is still ill and Tony Begovich is to test his fitness in the second team, so Mowden will field the same starting back row as last week.

Paul Vinnicombe, who prefers No 6, was injured when filling in at lock last week so his place goes to Ciaran McNicholas, a Newcastle University student from Letchworth.

Ross Batty continues to deputise for injured hooker Shaun Buckley and Andy Foreman stays at scrum half as Rob Stewart is still not fit.

Alex Tait and Martin Featherstone were injured last week, so Iain Dixon switches to full back with Chris Clark at centre.

Darlington bring in David Andrew at scrum half for his first start of the season away to North One leaders Kendal as they continue to be disrupted by injury and unavailability.

The half backs who made promising debuts last week, Charles Catterall and Matt Sellars, are unavailable, as are No 8 Del Lewis and hooker Rob Goddard, while flankers Andrew Tonkin and Richard Parker are injured.

Rory Wood reverts to fly half, with skipper Lee Richardson returning after injury on the wing.

Only two players have played in all five league games - centre Andrew Pugh and lock Andy Harston - and the new back row features Russell Hayworth, Matt Dilworth and Yarm School product James Knox, who makes his debut at blind side after coming up through the club's juniors.

Liam Kelly makes his full debut at hooker, having played as a replacement in the last few weeks.

Following their home defeat by Kendal, Middlesbrough visit second-placed Huddersfield without Lee Rust at full back as goal-kicker Simon Moore is unavailable. Paul Norris switches to his preferred position of centre with Ross McNeill on the wing.

Iain Bradford partners Chris Webb at lock as Gareth Lodge is unavailable, and Tom Docherty, a scrum half formerly with West Hartlepool, is introduced on the bench.

Following their opening victory last week, ensuring there was not to be a repeat of last season's pointless September, Stockton make their first visit to promoted Wallsend in D and N One.

Against opponents who benefit from the coaching of Newcastle Falcons prop Micky Ward, Stockton have open-side flanker Chris Driver very doubtful with a shoulder injury.

Experienced second team captain Ian Todd stands by and the bench is boosted by ex-Durham County lock Keith Etherington.

Simon Crozier is unavailable so Tom Jeffery switches from full back to outside centre, allowing Matt Taylor to reclaim the No 15 shirt. Winger Ben Ray, who proved he has has recovered from shin splints by scoring four tries for the seconds last week, replaces teenager Rob Allen.