Darlington Mowden Park's team manager, Jim Dyson, is to call for a special general meeting to discuss the link with Newcastle Falcons.

The feeling has been growing within the club that the arrangement is too one-sided, and it has been brought to a head by the Falcons' insisting that Mowden prop Danny Brown must work at Kingston Park tomorrow.

Brown is part of Newcastle's community relations team and is needed because the crowd will be a 10,000 sell-out for the first time for the Falcons' Sky-televised match against Wasps.

With Ian Keeligan ruled out by a back injury, Mowden are short of props for their home match against Macclesfield in National Three North.

The members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strengthening the link with Newcastle during the summer, but other than the efforts of player-coach Richard Arnold they have seen few benefits on the field.

Newcastle are said to want a North-East club in Division One and the aim is to get Mowden there, but on current form the best they can hope for is to finish fifth or sixth in National Three North for the third successive season.

They hoped to have centre Martin Shaw on loan for the whole season, but after playing three games he was recalled to Newcastle.

Two weeks ago all four of Mowden's threequarters were Newcastle Academy players, but last week only one was available.

Arnold is again struggling with his shoulder problem and could miss tomorrow's match, while a further blow is that the British Embassy have refused Vaha Faleovalu's entry.

It was thought that the Tongan back row man's visa problems had been sorted out after he was turned back at Gatwick in August. But it now seems unlikely he will be returning.

Darlington expect to have skipper Paul Lee back at fly half for the trip to bottom club Longton.

His brother Craig, the player-coach, said: "Dave Haswell has done very well in Paul's absence. He says fly half is his favourite position, but we'll probably move him back to centre now.

"It would be good to get a win away from home as it would lift confidence and take us a bit further up the table."

Haswell's brother, Graham, is the one likely to make way.

In North Two East Middlesbrough are at home to Westoe and recall Ian Bradford for unavailable No 8 Dean Gardiner. Danny Bishop stays at fly half, with Ian Bircham on the bench.

West Hartlepool prop Carl Robinson is unavailable for the trip to Bridlington, while Stockton visit leaders unbeaten Hull without winger Simon Crozier and injured prop Gary Skirving.

Ben Jenkinson deputises for Skirving, while Mattie Oates comes in at centre with Graham Kell switching to full back and Andy Bare to the wing.

* Middlesbrough face another tough match in the English Clubs Colts Knockout Cup if they win at Leeds in the third round.

They will be away to Wharfedale, who beat Stockton 31-5 in the third round after Stockton had beaten Gosforth 46-7.

* Four Newcastle Falcons players are in the North team to play the South in an Under 21 trial match at Broadstreet on December 2.

Winger Steve Jones will be joined by forwards David Wilson, Geoff Parling and Ed Williamson, while lock Andy Buist is in the South team.

* Rob Andrew will today hand over the keys to a minibus to Hexham Priory School, for which the money has been raised by the rugby charity, the North East Wooden Spoon Society.

A three-day sponsored bike ride raised £17,500, which was matched by the charity, and Andrew will make the presentation at Hexham Racecourse.