Darlington duo Phil Lancaster and Craig Lee have won the Coach of the Month award for March in National Three North.

Four successive wins lifted the team out of the third relegation spot to mid-table safety and the coaches will be presented with tankards before today's home match against Kendal by former British Lion Mike Weston.

Darlington are keen to complete their home programme with a win against the Cumbrians, who are just above them in the table.

"We lost heavily over there and we don't like anyone to do the double over us," said Lee.

"We are unbeaten in the last seven at home, confidence is high and we hope to run in a few tries."

Lock Richard Snowball will play after suffering no reaction during his 30-minute return in the midweek cup win at Blaydon.

Hooker Dan Oselton is also back and will have Paul Shepherd alongside him, with Paul Scott on the bench.

Mowden Park have again found themselves struggling to raise a front row for the visit to National Three North champions Halifax.

Ian Keeligan has gone on a club trip to Prague, where two matches are being played, while Danny Brown has been suffering from back spasms and hooker Tasi Tuhana has an ear infection.

Newcastle Falcons are unable to help as Stuart Mackie and Ed Kalman are injured, so Tuhana is likely to be pressed into service alongside Peni Fakalelu, with former Houghall student James Knox making his first league start at loose head.

With no prop in reserve, Mowden were yesterday trying to register ex-colt Edward Midcalf.

The rest of the side shows two changes from the one which clinched safety with a home win against Macclesfield two weeks ago, with Matt Holmes replacing the injured Matt Wright in the back row and James Hamer returning on the right wing in place of Michael Breen.

If Mowden win their Durham Cup semi-final at Westoe on Wednesday they might press for the final to be played a week later.

Any suspicion that last season's player-coach Richard Arnold was behind Westoe's decision to delay the semi-final have proved unfounded.

Arnold, who now has the same role with Westoe, is unlikely to play on Wednesday.

He is not fully fit and came off after 66 minutes in the Intermediate Cup final at Twickenham.

Blaydon are looking for one point to ensure safety at home to New Brighton and have lock James Houghton back after his two-week ban. He replaces David Falconer, who is playing for the Army.

Nick Gandy might have to play at scrum half as Nick Williams is still doubtful and neither Ben Mason nor Mick Dungait are available.

Skipper Dave Guthrie switches to lock, with Gavin Stainsby at No 8 and Dave Marwick at blind side.

Blaydon will be looking for a fast start as they believe if they can get two scores on the board they should at least earn the bonus point they require.

Middlesbrough finish their season with a trip to Hull, who have an outside chance of pipping neighbours Hull Ionians for the promotion play-off spot in North One.

But Ionians should win away to relegated Liverpool St Helens.

In the final North Two East programme, champions Westoe visit Stockton, who should hang on to seventh place even if they lose as the teams below them have hard games.

With Tom Armstrong, brother of scrum half Peter, making his debut on the wing, Stockton would have fielded three pairs of brothers had Mark Skirving been available.

Prop Gary Skirving returns after his ban and the Browns, Alan and Wayne, are in the back row with Nicky Atkinson. Brett Wildridge comes in at lock.

The only thing to be decided is who goes down with Horden and Redcar.

Morpeth could escape if they win at Horden while Malton and Norton lose at home to Huddersfield.

Durham City will clinch the promotion play-off place in Durham and Northumberland One if they win at Hartlepool. They could even be champions if Percy Park suffer a third successive defeat at home to Billingham.

But the likelihood is that City will face a play-off against Wheatley Hills, who will finish second in Yorkshire One.

The Doncaster-based club are way behind champions Beverley and City's superior record should earn them home advantage.

* Broken leg victim Michael Stephenson could find himself out in the cold next season.

The Newcastle Falcons winger, who broke his left leg in two places at Northampton last week, was expecting to join Bath but his injury could keep him out of the game for most of next season