NEWCASTLE Falcons yesterday lost two more players to international squads, disrupting their preparations for Sunday's Zurich Premiership match at home to struggling Northampton.

After seven successive league defeats the Saints this week parted company with coach Alan Solomons and this is a match the Falcons are desperate to win.

But after training with England on Monday and Tuesday then returning to Tyneside, centre Jamie Noon was summoned back to London yesterday because of an illness scare surrounding Mike Tindall.

Then lock Craig Hamilton was called up by Scotland after his clubmate Stuart Grimes suffered a back problem.

"It doesn't help the challenge of managing a team when you have a revolving door of players coming and going every day," said Newcastle's Director of Rugby Rob Andrew.

"It will sound like a whinge and we knew the reality at the start of the season, but the question still exists as to how on earth you prepare a professional team for a big game under these circumstances.

"From a managerial viewpoint it's quite impossible. I'm not making excuses but in a week like we have had you can't do your job. I'm sure Sale are delighted to have so many players in the England squad, but they must be ripping their hair out after two defeats on the trot. They were flying in the league but could find all their momentum has been destroyed by the autumn internationals."

Newcastle prop Micky Ward trained with England from Monday to Wednesday, while scrum half Hall Charlton was also involved on Monday and Tuesday.

Andrew was also resigned to being without Mathew Tait after his selection for the England Sevens squad, but if Noon is not available on Sunday Tait will be drafted back on to the Falcons' bench before rushing off for the flight to Dubai.

Andrew has recalled Michael Stephenson in place of Tait on the left wing and Mike McCarthy for Semo Sititi at blind side. James Grindal starts at scrum half and Andy Buist at lock, with Hamilton named on the bench along with Colin Charvis.

Charvis is to captain Wales against Japan tonight, but Andrew hopes to get at least 20 minutes out of him.

Flanker Ed Williamson, who made his first two Premiership starts earlier this season, is to have a shoulder operation.

Tickets are still available for Sunday's match and are available by ringing the hotline on 0871 226 6060.

* While Darlington Mowden Park have benefited from a week's rest, their neighbours are counting the cost of a bruising encounter against Bradford and Bingley ahead of tomorrow's National Three North derby at Yiewsley Drive.

Mark Bedworth remains Mowden's major concern, but he is expected to pass a fitness test while Darlington have had to rule out young forwards Tom Wilkinson and James Snowball, and No 8 Michael Taylor is very doubtful.

They were already without player-coach Craig Lee and his brother Paul because of a family wedding, while Army lock Paul Radford has a pot on his foot and will be out for at least two more weeks.

Wilkinson had to go off with a shoulder injury against the Bees and will be out for at least two weeks, with his place at lock likely to go to Matt Dilworth.

If Taylor's hamstring injury keeps him out Del Lewis will be at No 8 with New Zealander Ian Fulwood coming in at blind side.

Ben Snook and David Glendenning will fill the holes in the backs, although it has yet to be decided whether Snook or Lee Davies plays at fly half.

Michael Georgiou is fit to play at fly half for Mowden after shaking off his flu, and No 8 Matt Holmes also returns to the squad after injury.

North Two East leaders Westoe, the region's sole survivors in the Powergen Intermediate Cup, will get a taste of what to expect if they are promoted when they visit Driffield in the fourth round.

In the Powergen Junior Vase, Northallerton also visit a team who are a division above them when they go to Pocklington. Sunderland entertain Merseyside club Sefton, while Gosforth visit Cumbrian side Netherall.