RELATIONS are in danger of becoming strained between Durham Cup finalists Darlington and Westoe.

Darlington were reluctantly prepared to go along with the county's ruling that the final should be played on June 1, but the Westoe players seem to have decided that their season is over.

Having already been to Twickenham in the Intermediate Cup, the South Shields contingent have also dropped out of today's final group game in the County Shield against Cumbria at Darlington.

Lock Paul Bird, centre Dave Haswell and full back Craig Stephenson all made themselves unavailable for a game which could still earn a Twickenham appearance next week if group leaders North Midlands lose away to Oxfordshire.

Darlington player-coach Craig Lee, who performs a similar role with the county, said: "It's disappointing because we still think we can get something out of it. It's been hard for everyone fitting this in at the end of a long season, but they knew there were three games with a possibility of going to Twickenham for a fourth."

On the cup final, Lee added: "We said if we did not get to Twickenham we would be happy to play next Saturday, but Westoe are adamant they are not going to play until August.

"I have nothing against playing the county cup pre-season, but it has to be the full competition. This way the teams that have reached the final could have a lot of new players by the time they meet."

The county's three national league clubs already feel Westoe have messed up the county cup by not bringing forward their semi-final against Mowden Park, as Blaydon agreed to do against Darlington, despite having to field a second team.

With several other players unavailable, Durham have had to make six changes for today's match. Despite last week's defeat away to North Midlands, they could still be promoted to the County Championship proper for next season or be relegated to the third-tier event, the County Plate, if they lose.

Darlington flanker Martin Howe is still having trouble with the hand he broke six weeks ago and will have a fitness test with a view to sitting on the bench.

Coming into the side are Durham City's Toro Higuchi at full back, Hartlepool Rovers' Gareth Foreman on the wing and Mark Power at lock, West Hartlepool hooker Brett Cullinane, Darlington flanker Matt Dilworth and Horden centre Andrew Turner, who will at least strengthen the goal-kicking.

Durham: T Higuchi (Durham City), G Foreman (Hartlepool Rovers), A Turner (Horden), C Lee (Darlington), O Brennand (Durham University), P Lee, R Stewart (Darlington), I Keeligan (Darlington Mowden Park), B Cullinane (West Hartlepool), D Miller, M Taylor (Darlington), M Power (Hartlepool Rovers), M Dilworth (Darlington), M Holmes (Mowden Park), T Irwin (Sunderland).

Despite the changes, Durham should still be capable of beating a Cumbria side which includes three players each from Kendal, Aspatria and Penrith. They also include the young Tynedale fly half Gavin Beasley.

After helping Yorkshire to win their first two games in the County Championship, Darlington lock Richard Snowball is unavailable for the group decider against Lancashire at Sedgley Park.

Northumberland have Blaydon's Dave Guthrie taking over as captain for their match against Cheshire at Macclesfield and will have Mowden Park's Jason Smithson on the bench. Their home match against Lancashire last week raised £2,000 for the Alistair Johnson Appeal.

* Colin Charvis was last night named Newcastle Falcons' player of the season at the club's awards ceremony. Matt Burke took the players' player accolade. England under-21 scrum half Lee Dickson won the young player award and Phil Dowson's effort against Wasps was the try of the season. Two Mathew Tait tries, against Saracens and Sale, were runners-up.