BLAYDON continue to pay a huge price for reaching the third round of the Powergen Cup for the first time as they haven't won a game since the second round.

Skipper Dave Guthrie broke his chest bone in the victory over Division Two club Wharfedale on October 2 and is still three or four weeks away from a comeback.

In his absence Blaydon have slipped to third from the bottom of National Three North and further injuries have left them struggling for threequarters at home to Darlington Mowden Park tomorrow.

South African full back Grant Henderson, centre Pete Kilburn and winger Colin Duncan were all injured last week, joining two other backs, Luke Wattam and Simon Barber, on the casualty list.

Henderson pulled a hamstring in scoring the try in the 42-5 defeat at Bradford and Bingley and Blaydon are thinking of switching Nick Wainwright to full back.

That would leave them looking for another centre to partner Andy Khan, but on the plus side scrum half Nick Williams should be back, along with props Fatu Tulaga and Justin Clarke.

Mowden have problems at tight head and might have to ask Dave Sinclair to keep soldiering on, despite a back problem.

They hope to have some Newcastle Academy boys available as they have no game next Monday, but Danny Brown also has a back injury, while reserve prop Peni Fakalelu is not a tight head.

No 8 Matt Holmes has been back in training this week and will rejoin the squad, while Mark Bedworth could start at inside centre after his hamstring injury.

Darlington skipper Paul Lee remains doubtful for the visit of Bradford and Bingley because of his hamstring injury, but winger Fraser Monohan and hooker Dan Oselton are fit to return.

Lee Davis will revert to centre, with David Glendenning dropping down to the bench along with Rob Goddard.

In North One Middlesbrough visit Birkenhead Park looking to avenge a 24-23 home defeat in the Powergen Intermediate Cup two weeks ago.

Boro welcome back two former back row men in ex-skipper Richard McRae, who has spent a year travelling, and Ben Pattinson, who has returned from Wharfedale. McRae will be at No 6 with current captain Gavin Fingland opting to rediscover his form in the second team, while Pattinson is on the bench.

Peter Wright is out for a month with the shoulder injury he suffered last week, so Shaun Richardson will be at scrum half with his brothers, Dave and Lee, at centre and Neil Baggett at fly half. Andy Micklewright starts on the wing.

Birkenhead have won four of their eight games, while Boro have won one out of six.

Stockton will be seeking their first away point of the season at Alnwick, who are third in North Two East. Player-coach Alan Brown should be back for Stockton, and Dan Taylor comes in at centre.

New leaders Westoe visit mid-table Redcar, while West Hartlepool will be anxious for a win at home to Sandal, as will bottom club Horden at home to Huddersfield.

* Stockton stalwart Joe Glover, a player and official with the club for over 50 years, has died at the age of 78. He was secretary from 1955-64 and again from 71-74, and served as club president from 1984-90.