MIDDLESBROUGH have been drawn at home to old rivals Sandal in the second round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup next Saturday.

The Halifax-based visitors have dropped a couple of divisions since the days when they often used to knock Boro out of the Yorkshire Cup and are now in North Two East.

Other ties involving North-East teams are: Hartlepool Rovers v Driffield, Horden v Hull Ionians, Ryton v Durham City, Westoe v Alnwick, York v Consett.

The draw for the senior Powergen Cup has not been kind to Blaydon, who will be away to Orrell on October 16 if they win next week's second round tie at home to Wharfedale.

Boro are at home tomorrow to West Park St Helens, who lost their opening North One fixture 18-13 at home to Hull Ionians.

Simon Moore is injured, so Neil Baggett continues at full back for Boro, while Danny Poole comes in for unavailable winger Andy Micklewright.

Neil Parkin makes his first appearance of the season in the back row, with Mark Hatfield dropping to the bench, and Scott Watson returns at loose head with Dale Sawdon at tight head.

In National Three North the two Darlington clubs are still looking for their first wins and Mowden Park should have the better chance with home advantage against Bradford and Bingley.

There are doubts about skipper Richard Holbrough, who missed last week's game with a dead leg, and prop Dave Sinclair, who has a calf injury.

With Tongan prop Peni Fakalalu also struggling, former Tynedale and Consett player Derek Dixon comes into the reckoning.

Danny Brown will not be available at all before Christmas because of his commitments with the Newcastle Falcons Development XV, who have a game every Monday.

Gareth Kerr played for them this week, although he is no longer in the Academy, and suffered an ankle injury which looks certain to rule him out for Mowden tomorrow.

They are still expecting a South African lock to arrive shortly, once passport difficulties have been sorted out.

Darlington visit Bedford Athletic with flanker Martin Howe in the team for the first time this season after his three-week suspension.

They are also hoping lock Paul Radford will be available to add some beef to the pack, and prop Joe Oselton returns after injury.

As he is going away shortly, David Glendenning is stepping down after playing full back, centre and flanker recently.

Blaydon will expect to chalk up a third successive win at home to struggling Dudley Kingswinford.

Stockton visit Sandal and have back row men Phil Austen and Brett Wildridge back, while Rob Green comes in at scrum half for Nicky Poole, who has an ankle injury.

Full back Andy Bare could be fit after suffering a broken hand pre-season.

* A party of 42 rugby players are competing in Sunday's Great North Run to raise money for the family of Kevin Clough, a former Ashington, Gateshead and England Colts flanker who died of cancer at 35, leaving a widow and three children.

Part of the money will go to the St Oswald's Hospice in Gosforth, and donations, payable to the Kevin Clough Trust Fund, can be sent to Will Feebery, Community and Operations Dept, RFU, Rugby House, Rugby Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 1DS.

* The RFU are to have a stand at the Great North Sport and Fitness Show at the Gateshead Metro Arena today and tomorrow.

With the focus on recruitment, youngsters will be able to make use of a kicking cage, scrum machine and bungee run/Elasto challenge.

* The draw for the second round of the Powergen Junior Vase includes: Baildon v Richmond, Gateshead v Winlaton, Gosforth v Blyth, North Shields v Novos, Northallerton v Bradford Salem, Scarborough v North Ribblesdale, Sunderland v Rockcliff, Wetherby v Ripon.