NEWCASTLE'S Michael Stephenson will be hoping to show he's not just a seven-a-side specialist when the Falcons entertain Wasps in the sixth round of the Powergen National Cup tomorrow.

The former England Schools full back has played mostly on the wing since David Walder's switch to No 15 and his pace has carried him into the England Sevens squad.

He is in a party of 25 named this week for the Commonwealth Games next August, a squad which also features Teessider James Simpson-Daniel, who is now with Gloucester.

They will be rubbing shoulders with several established England stars such as Austin Healey, Lawrence Dallaglio, Dan Luger and Jason Robinson.

With Stephenson on one wing tomorrow, the Falcons could have Gareth Maclure on the other as Liam Botham has sprained an ankle and Inga Tuigamala is doubtful with a calf strain.

They won the cup last season in its final year under Tetley's sponsorship, and with the Premiership clubs just coming into the competition the Powergen sponsorship has only recently been announced. Phil Dowson, the Newcastle back row man who has joined Darlington Mowden Park for the rest of the season, suffered a hand injury on his debut against Doncaster last week.

Darren McKinnon switches to No 8 for the trip to Scunthorpe in National Division Three North, with Tim Wilks coming in at open side.

Mowden have dropped Richard Woollam and are to experiment with Jonny Golightly at scrum half in the hope of speeding up the service.

It will be Golightly's third different position in successive weeks, but he played scrum half at Durham School before switching to No 10 to accommodate Hall Charlton, now with the Falcons.

Steve Sanderson is working and with Ian James still injured Mowden have brought in Jason Malcolm at lock. He has been concentrating on basketball recently but told Mowden he would be happy to help out when needed.

James Isaacson, the other loan signing from Newcastle, retains his place in an unchanged front row, which means Dave Sinclair and Danny Brown are again on the bench.

"They have both taken it on the chin," said team manager Jim Dyson. "They are facing up to it and are determined to come back with a bang."

Golightly's switch allows Mark Bedworth to return at centre alongside Mick Kent and Mowden are hoping to run in a few tries against a side who concede a lot of points.

Having said that, they won five successive games prior to losing 41-38 at Bedford Athletic last week.

West Hartlepool coach John Stabler has a broken hand so is unable to step in for the battle of the bottom two at home to Sandal.

He might have been needed as centre Allan Milne broke an arm at Tynedale last week and Jamie Connolly damaged ankle ligaments.

If Connolly is ruled out Michael Walton will move to fly half with Andrew Lilley at full back, while student Phil Cuff comes in at centre.

West have registered TDSOB player-coach John Painter for one week and he will play at prop.

The much-travelled Phil Belgian makes his Tynedale debut at fly half away to second-placed Doncaster.

Belgian, who began at Gateshead, had two spells with West either side of a sojourn in France, and has also played for Newcastle, Waterloo and Wakefield.

Darlington have pulled out of a friendly at Morpeth because of injuries in the backs. Paul Beattie (hamstring), Simon White (achilles), Leigh Johnson (groin) and Craig Lee (shoulder) are all struggling.

l The North Schools Under-18 selectors will be busy this weekend, taking in three matches - Northumberland v Cumbria and Durham v Cheshire at Durham City today and Yorkshire v Lancashire at Harrogate tomorrow.

Afterwards the teams for the North of England trial next Friday at Kings School, Macclesfield (1pm) will be chosen.

Durham v Cheshire kicks off at 2pm today and is preceded at noon by Northumberland v Cumbria.

Durham: L Dickson (Barnard Castle), P Carleton, D Kell and W Kirtley (all Durham), P Thompson (Yarm), R Wood and M Connew (Barnard Castle), R Curry (Durham), W Kay (Yarm), J Clark, A Cowie, S Walker (all Barnard Castle), G Cochrane (Yarm), C Carr (St Aidans Sunderland), E Williamson (Barnard Castle).