Darlington Mowden Park's second row Jason Malcolm has rejoined Middlesbrough.

Jim Dyson, Mowden Park's team manager, said: "He played for us all last season and half this. He has suffered a temporary loss of form and decided to go back to Middlesbrough."

Mowden Park, at Wigton this afternoon for a North Division One game, are without full-back KevinMcCallum with a shoulder injury - Mark Bedworth deputises and his place is taken by Jonny Golightly.

Tony Urwin has a slight hamstring injury and will not be risked, but he will be on the replacements bench and the experienced Shaun Cassidy, who has played for both Bedford and West Hartlepool in the top flight, will take his place. Also on the bench is John Stewart, recovered from a broken elbow.

Darlington should not encounter too many problems as they seek to gain the double over North Division Two strugglers York and stay on course for a play-off place and equally importantly earn a home tie.

Darlington, defeated at home only once in the league in three seasons, just failed to hit the ton when they brushed York aside earlier in the season - a record league defeat for York.

Back row Bryan Dixon is unavailable and his place is taken by Mark Turnbull.

York have picked up only one point in 17 league outings.

Darlington are expected to field a strong development squad for the attractive representative game against The Army at Blackwell Meadows on Wednesday evening (7pm).

Darlington are adding to their list of playing club matches, having met the RAF over the last couple of seasons.

Stockton have been hit by flu with club captain Alan Brown ruled out - although he may sit on the bench - and hooker Danny Muirhead, Mark Gilchrist and Ian Todd taking their places for the game at Northern, a crucial game for both clubs, battling against relegation. Keith Etherington is not available and Andy Cowell takes his place.

Milddlesbrough, another club embroiled in a relegation scrap, have Tom Lauriston back in their ranks and is eligible for the game at Driffield. The centre or wing from Hutton Rudby has been playing at Otley.

Blaydon are looking to follow in Newcastle Falcons' footsteps and make a Twickenham final. They entertain Kettering in the quarter-finals of the Intermediate Cup, the furthest Blaydon have reached in the tournament.

John Goose and James Houghton are both cup tied and their places are taken by Tim Russell in the back row and Paul Bird (second row).

Kettering have a couple of farmers in their squad and concerned by the foot and mouth outbreak in the North of England alerted Blaydon, but the Ministry of Agriculture have cleared them to play.

And in the event of the ground being frost-bound, Blaydon have already made contigency plans to play at Durham University's Racecourse ground.

l Gareth Cooper would have had an extra spring in his step had injury not robbed him of his place in Bath's starting line-up for the big West Country derby against Gloucester at the Recreation Ground today.

The uncapped former Bridgend scrum-half has made giant strides already since crossing the border in 1998, even ousting Scotland skipper Andy Nicol from the Bath number nine spot for spells.

And now the 21-year-old has made another impressive breakthrough having been named in the provisional 67-man list for the British and Irish Lions' summer tour Down Under.

Bath have an abundance of riches at scrum-half with club captain Nicol, former All Black Jon Preston and Steve Hatley vying with Cooper for a place in the senior side.

But it is Cooper who has caught the eye and he joins team-mates Iain Balshaw, Mike Catt, Matt Perry and Mark Regan in the Lions reckoning.

Gloucester fans will be hoping this will be one clash that is not followed by coach Phillipe Saint-Andre's offer of resignation.

On more than one occasion this season the former French international winger has offered to quit after watching his inconsistent side