THE fixture planners have done North-East rugby fans no favours with all four teams in National Division Three North being away from home again tomorrow.

In fact, they are all at home and away on the same dates until the sequence is broken by the first derby match when West Hartlepool entertain Blaydon on November 10.

Blaydon visit Bedford Athletic tomorrow, while West are at New Brighton, Darlington Mowden Park go to Nuneaton and Tynedale are at Sandal.

That means the top match in the region is Darlington's North Division One clash with Sheffield.

After scraping through their cup tie at Walsall, Blaydon are hoping for a better performance with the pack bolstered by the return of props David Dixon and George Donaghue, lock Jason Oakes and No 8 John Goose.

Oakes takes over from James Houghton but will be available for only a few weeks before RAF duties claim him again.

After an excellent display in the seconds, David Dalrymple returns at fly half in place of newcomer Sam Howe, while James O'Malley replaces Barney Vorster on the wing.

Middlesbrough visit Wigton in North Division One and include newcomer Rob Taylor, a back row man, in their squad.

They are considering playing another flanker, Tim Sawyer, at hooker, where he is competing with Ben Horton now that Ross Groves is back at Loughborough.

Steve Graham returns at fly half, but Ashley Parker is still injured so Andy Micklewright will be at full back with Irish flier Wes Henry coming in on the wing.

Wigton were unable to play for the last two months of last season because of foot-and-mouth, and when it looked as though three clubs might be relegated it was a tight call between them and Boro.

In the end only Northern and Stockton went down, and after beating Northern in their opening match in North Two East Stockton face a tough test at Huddersfield.

The progressive Yorkshire club finished fourth last season and will have their sights on promotion, but Stockton are in buoyant mood.

With Alan Brown and Brett Wildridge fit to play in the back row, they also have lock Mark Skirving back after a hand injury.

Lee Richardson continues at fly half and veteran Dave Cooke comes in at centre as Joff Staples is unavailable.