Darlington Mowden Park are not exactly flavour of the month on Merseyside, but they will not be penalised for their failure to travel to Liverpool St Helens two weeks ago, writes Tim Wellock.

Six of their players who live in the Hartlepool/Sunderland area were unable to get into Darlington to catch the team bus because of snow.

Winger Andy Foreman even crashed his car trying to get out of Hartlepool and when player-coach Richard Arnold set off in a four-wheel drive in an effort to round up the players he was unable to get through.

Mowden told Liverpool they wouldn't be travelling and when the Merseysiders protested to the RFU Mowden told the league secretary that if he insisted on the game going ahead they were prepared to go with 14 men.

At that point he talked Liverpool into agreeing to a postponement, but they still became the second club in three weeks to write a letter to Rugby Times complaining about Mowden.

A New Brighton official had written protesting about the behaviour of some home fans during his club's victory at Yiewsley Drive last month. Liverpool noted that on the day of the postponement Blaydon travelled to New Brighton, while Darlington were able to stage their home match against Fylde.

Darlington had two points deducted in October for failing to fulfil their fixture at Fylde, when they were unable to raise a front row.

But that won't happen to Mowden, with Ivor Horscroft, of the National Clubs' Association, explaining: "This is a different set of circumstances.

"Some people have protested, but we are satisfied that Mowden made every effort to get their players together and there will be no action taken against them."

With the Liverpool pitch required for a Rugby League cup final last Saturday, Mowden were again left kicking their heels and the match will go ahead on March 27.

They return to action at home to Fylde tomorrow and hope to select from a fully-fit squad. Darlington are also at full-strength after their week off and are looking to avenge their home defeat by Dudley Kingswinford.

They fell apart in the second half after being well ahead against the Midlanders, who are one place below them. Darlington need Blaydon to do them a favour by winning at home to Liverpool and the Tynesiders are likely to field the side which did so well to win in injury time at New Brighton two weeks ago.

Andy Kahn is the only current casualty, but Peter Kilburn and Matt Dehaty are available to team up at centre.

In North Two East Stockton will be looking to upset Middlesbrough's promotion bid by avenging their 34-8 defeat at Acklam Park.

Former Stockton player and coach John Moore is now in charge of Boro and his son Simon is in the team after he also switched from Stockton.

Graham Kell and Andy Cowell return to the Stockton squad, but they will be without skipper Alan Brown because of a one-week ban following the first sending-off of his 16-year career against Westoe.