NEWCASTLE Falcons will take legal advice in their battle with Scotland over payments to flanker Andy Mower, who has quit on medical advice at the age of 29.

Sydney-born Mower joined the Falcons five years ago from London Irish and made 55 Premiership appearances for the club, but he has played very little in the last two years after twice having a knee rebuilt.

He qualified for Scotland through his parentage and won the last of his 13 caps against Ireland 13 months ago before being injured while preparing with them for the World Cup.

It was because of the dispute over compensation that Newcastle withheld two players from a Scotland squad session last month.

"It's five months since my last operation and now is the time when I need to be stepping up to a rugby level of fitness," said Mower. "But with the pains I'm getting the doctors don't think that's wise.

"It has been a tough decision because I love the game. But there comes a point when you have to weigh up the rest of your life when you get medical advice like that.

"I have had five happy years at Newcastle and the club have been excellent in giving me every chance to get back playing. I now plan to resume a financial career in London."

Falcons boss Rob Andrew said: "We are deeply disappointed. Andy has always given his best for us."

The Falcons had a training session yesterday with England defence coach Phil Larder, the former Rugby League man, ahead of Sunday's Heineken Cup match at home to Perpignan.

Andrew said: "After a couple of defensive lapses recently we asked Phil to come and share his knowledge with us. The session was extremely useful."

The Falcons crowds for the first three home matches of the season have been 33 per cent up on the equivalent games last year with an average attendance of 8,359.

Commercial director Mick Hogan said: "A lot of this is down to the good work of the community relations team. But there's also the fact that a day at Kingston Park represents great value in a state-of-the-art stadium watching some of the most entertaining rugby around."

Tickets are still available for the visit of Perpignan and can be obtained by ringing the hotline on 0871 226 60 60.

Perpignan lie second in the French League after winning seven of their ten games and include England winger Dan Luger, plus ex-All Black Scott Robertson and Irish lock Mick O'Driscoll.

Darlington Mowden Park will have Gareth Kerr back on the wing for tomorrow's National Three North match at home to Kendal. He will replace new signing Andrew McNally, who is working.

Tim Wilks has a good chance of starting in the back row as Mowden have to check on the fitness of Paul Evans (neck), Matthew Wright (ribs) and Matt Holmes, who was ill last week.

Darlington visit second-placed Macclesfield with Paul Beattie likely to come in for unavailable winger Marc Potts.

Player-coach Craig Lee was unhappy with the refereeing in last week's 30-23 defeat by leaders Halifax, saying: "We have watched the video and there were forward passes in two of their tries. One of them was a long way forward.

"But we took a lot of confidence from the game and we are a bit of a bogey side to Macclesfield so we think we can go there and win again as long as we can keep 15 players on the pitch."

Lock Richard Snowball picked up his second yellow card of the season against Halifax and Lee said: "I wouldn't swap him for the world, but if he's going to be more aggressive it has to be controlled aggression."

Middlesbrough are spoilt for choice in the backs for their North One match at Preston Grasshoppers. With Simon Moore back at full back, Neil Baggett switches to the wing with Dave Richardson at fly half, his brother Lee at centre and third brother Shaun on the bench.

With Ian Bradford at lock and Gareth Lodge at No 8, Boro have named the same pack as selected for last week's postponed match. The vacant date on November 27 will be filled by a trip to Chester.