Final could be a classic

Darlington Mowden Park might be expected to use their extra muscle and the experience of national league rugby to tighten things up as they seek to avenge last season's semi-final defeat by Darlington.

But that's not the way Kevan Oliphant sees it in his final game as Mowden's player-coach.

"We have picked an athletic team and will try to open things up," he said. "We want to enjoy the occasion.

"Leagues are so important now they have pushed the county cup into the background, but it's a nice way to end the season, especially for me as it's my last game in charge.

"I hope we put on the performance we deserve to give. We have played very well this season but at times we have disappointed ourselves."

A home defeat by Scunthorpe followed by the 86-3 thrashing at Doncaster last week might have suggested that Mowden were saving themselves for today. But Oliphant denied that.

"It has been forced upon us by injuries," he said. "Our team for the final is as strong as we have been for a while.

"Doncaster were fantastic and they showed us what we have to do to go any higher. We don't have the same strength in our squad and losing players of the quality of Dave Mitchell, Aaron Radaelli, Phil Harvey and Tony Elwine has affected us.

"We need more strength and we hope to bring in some players during the summer.

"Things have gone a bit stale from my point of view, although my form has picked up recently when I haven't had so many problems to think about.

"I'll play one more season and I just want to enjoy it as a player. I still feel capable of doing it, and I wouldn't want to retire then think I could have gone on another couple of years."

It was hoped that after going head-to-head today the players of both clubs would come together to form the bulk of the Durham side to play Yorkshire at Wharfedale in two weeks. But Oliphant and prop Dave Sinclair look likely to be the only Mowden players available, with Ian Keeligan ruled out by a torn stomach muscle.

"The other players who were approached are just too tired," said Oliphant. "If we lose to Yorkshire we go into a plate competition, but nobody will be interested.

"It's a farce. They have got the structure totally wrong again. We have had 26 league games, and with cup matches as well you get to this stage of the season and you are bound to be tired. Your body can only take so much.

"People enjoy representative rugby if there's some meaning to it. It used to be a much better structure when we played all the northern counties, but now leagues have taken over."

Apart from Keeligan, Mowden are also without James Isaacson today as his loan from Newcastle Falcons has ended and he has gone to play in Australia.

Flanker Jonathan Boatman and lock Richard Mangles have damaged ankle ligaments, so Mowden have drafted Durham University captain Jonathan Ferguson into the back row and Ian James returns after injury at lock.

Flanker Tony Irwin has also recovered from injury, but after two months out Mowden have opted to leave him on the bench and hope he can make an impact some time during the second half.

With Danny Brown switching back to prop and Matt Hall hooking, former first team stalwart Euan Rankin is among the replacements, along with Scott Thompson, who suffered a horrendous arm injury last season.

The one change Darlington are considering from the team which beat West Hartlepool 42-5 in Tuesday's semi-final is to bring in Mark Butler on the wing for Tony Taylor.

Butler had a big impact in last season's semi-final, running 50 metres for the final try as Darlington beat Mowden 40-17 to avenge a 27-9 defeat in the previous year's final.

Last season's game changed when James was sin-binned and Darlington scored four tries in 15 minutes either side of half-time.

Oliphant, who also saw them score seven tries against West on Tuesday, said: "Their middle six are the key. We can't afford to give them any space because they run the ball very well.

"If we can get our defence back to where it was in the semi-final at Blaydon we can contain them, and we have enough firepower to score points ourselves."

The last two meetings have gone with home advantage, and as neither club particularly likes visiting the other they have no complaints about travelling to Durham.

Neutrals should help to swell the crowd at Hollow Drift to close to 1,000, and it will be no surprise if the teams share upwards of 60 points, with much depending on how well Darlington have recovered from Tuesday's exertions.

Darlington: D Glendenning (capt), T Taylor or M Butler, C Lee, S White, F Coulson, P Lee, R Stewart, P Lancaster, R Goddard, D Miller, P Radford, R Snowball, D Lewis, M Howe, B Dixon.

Mowden Park: M Bedworth, C Mattison, M Kent, C Strong, S Jones, K Oliphant, R Holborough, D Brown, M Hall, D Sinclair, S Sanderson, I James, J Ferguson, D McKinnon, T Wilkes.

*l Oliphant will be captaining Teesside Barbarians against Stockton on May 11, rather than playing for Durham.

The match has been organised to raise money for local man Lenny Kirk, who needs £20,000 by the end of May for cancer treatment he can only receive in America.

Former Stockton coach John Moore, now the first team coach at Durham University, has agreed to act as mentor to the Barbarians.

Moore said: "I hope that this is something that can continue after this season and I want to get the aims correct before we even touch a ball. I don't want any kicking and I will expect our players to run for 80 minutes. We must win in the right way and that way will be entertaining."

Tickets are available from organiser Carl Hall, who can be contacted on 01642 678674 or 0797 061 5238.

Lenny Hall said: "I was never a rugby man, more martial arts, but I am delighted to see what the rugby community is doing for me."

Barbarians squad: Ian Bircham (Acklam), Steve Jones (Darlington Mowden Park), Wes Henry (Middlesbrough), Michael Evans, Chris Ker (Billingham), Jamie Connolly (West Hartlepool), Craig Lee (Darlington), Steve Graham (Acklam), Kevan Oliphant (Mowden Park, capt), Jonathan Wrigley (Middlesbrough), David Tighe (West Hartlepool), Paul Beal (Redcar), Phil Lancaster (Darlington), Brett Cullinane (West Hartlepool), Richard Horton (Middlesbrough), Mick Conlon (Billingham), Chris Webb (West Hartlepool), Ian Robinson (Middlesbrough), Shaun Scott (Billingham), Stuart Hinds (Hartlepool), Shaun Cassidy, Tom McGrath, Gavin Kendall (Acklam), Andy Tate (Redcar), Tim Sawyer (West Hartlepool).

*l Middlesbrough have been drawn at home to Sandal, who beat them in last season's final, in the second round of the Yorkshire Cup on Tuesday.

Winger Wes Henry scored a hat-trick as Boro beat Bridlington 43-15 in the first round.