A FORTNIGHT ago Darlington seemed to be escaping the injury problems afflicting their National Three North rivals. Then they suffered three casualties on the eve of their match at Tynedale and suddenly weddings, funerals and illness are also taking their toll.

They will have to blood former Newcastle University student Richard Parker in the back row in today's derby at Mowden Park, as well as bringing Ben Snook and Richard Lang into midfield.

The latest affliction has been the mumps epidemic currently sweeping through the student population, which has ruled out James Snowball and David Taylor for at least two weeks, while David Glendenning has gone down with flu.

The Lee brothers, Paul and Craig, are attending a family wedding and Paul Scott, who has gone on as a front row replacement for the last few weeks, is at a funeral.

Hooker Dan Oselton has still not recovered from the back problem which forced him off at Tynedale and back row man Ian Fulwood is injured after becoming involved in a scrap at Catterick.

Richard Snowball skippers the side in Paul Lee's absence and will have Matt Dilworth alongside him in the second row. Dilworth is just back from a year out of the game after a knee operation.

Snook will be at fly half and will be out to make an impression after briefly switching to Mowden this season.

"These lads keep knocking on the door asking why they are not in the team and this week they have the chance," said Craig Lee.

"They just have to get on with it, treat Mowden with the respect they deserve, make their tackles and cut out the mistakes.

"It's a derby and they are always a bit more fierce, but it's not like it used to be. There was an incident at our place last season when Richard Arnold was injured, but there was no malice. Both teams have respect for each other."

Both derbies went with home advantage last season, although Mowden looked likely winners at Blackwell Meadows until Darlington began to use the rolling maul.

Mowden have worked hard on countering that, and should have the edge in the backs, especially with Mark Bedworth back at inside centre.

They also have back row man Matt Holmes fit again, but he has to be content with a place on the bench as Paul Evans continues at No 8.

Darlington Mowden Park: I Dixon, G Kerr, M Shaw, M Bedworth, T Lauriston, M Georgiou, R Holbrough, I Keeligan, T Tuhana, D Sinclair, I Robinson, N Pretorius, F Tanginoa, M Wright, P Evans

Darlington: D Kell, F Coulson, L Davis, R Lang, M Potts, B Snook, R Stewart, D Miller, R Goddard, J Oselton, R Snowball, M Dilworth, R Parker, M Howe, D Lewis.

The teams were due to meet again in last season's Durham Cup, but fixture chaos prevented the match taking place and the annual headache of fitting in cup games is already threatening again.

Mowden's match at Blaydon, controversially postponed last week, will now be played on February 12, the county cup first round date when Blaydon are due at Horden and Mowden were scheduled to host Hartlepool Rovers. The next available Saturday is March 26.

Blaydon visit Fylde today and just as it seemed their injury worries were easing centre Andy Khan tore a hamstring in training on Thursday and winger Colin Duncan reported that his shoulder was still troubling him.

Grant Henderson returns at full back and Rob Windle will partner Nick Wainwright at centre.

Middlesbrough have a rearranged match at Chester in North One and have strengthened the pack with the return of hooker Richard Horton plus back row men Ben Pattinson and Richard McRae. Ian Bradford and Phil Tilson are at lock.

Dave Richarson returns at fly half with Neil Baggett switching to full back and Simon Moore dropping to the bench.