Bishop Auckland will be playing on a rugby league ground next month.

The UniBond League has agreed to a request from Runcorn, who are selling their Canal Street ground, for a switch of their home game with Bishops on March 10 to Widnes Rugby League ground.

Runcorn are the second UniBond League club to consider a switch to a rugby league ground.

Last season Emley played several matches at Wakefield Rugby League club, and after a successful experiment, made the move permanent.

It could well be that Runcorn will follow suit, particularly if their attendances increase, or at the very least, hold their Canal Street average.

Bishops' Durham Challenge Cup semi final against Tow Law, which was postponed on Wednesday, has been re-arranged for next Wednesday, which means their scheduled league game at Gateshead will have to be rearranged. Blyth Spartans have opened new contract talks with manager John Charlton. Charlton, the son of legend Jack, has transformed Blyth in recent months by

lifting them into mid table after taking over in the summer from Mick Tait who is now part of Darlington's managerial team.

Blyth have been handed a tough away tie in the last sixteen of the FA Umbro Trophy. Spartans, the only North-East club left in the competition, must travel to Conference outfit Chester City in a fortnight's time.

Chester pulled off a surprise by beating Plymouth in this season's FA Cup, after they had defeated Northern League club Easington in an earlier round.

Burton Albion, who beat Bishop Auckland two rounds ago and Scarborough last Saturday, are now at home to Conference leaders Yeovil Town.

Draw: Burton Albion v Yeovil Town, Weymouth v Southport, Evesham United or Morecambe v Leigh RMI or Hereford United, Canvey Island v Stevenage Borough, Histon or Billericay Town v Telford United, Tiverton Town v Worksop Town, Chester City v Blyth Spartans, Matlock Town or Forest Green Rovers v Rushden and Diamonds

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Emley 28 21 4 3 56 25 67

Stalybridge 24 18 5 1 61 18 59

Bishop Auckland 24 15 4 5 49 28 49

Altrincham 28 13 7 8 54 35 46

Lancaster 25 12 7 6 48 41 43

Worksop 24 12 6 6 64 38 42

Accrington 28 11 6 11 43 42 39

Whitby 27 10 6 11 40 41 36

Barrow 25 10 5 10 41 40 35

Burscough 22 10 4 8 37 35 34

Gainsborough 28 9 7 12 30 40 34

Hucknall 22 9 6 7 27 27 33

Droylsden 26 10 3 13 31 42 33

Gateshead 23 9 4 10 42 35 31

Runcorn 24 9 4 11 31 41 31

Hyde 21 8 6 7 39 33 30

Blyth Spartans 26 8 5 13 31 35 29

Bamber Bridge 25 8 5 12 32 43 29

Marine 27 7 7 13 35 48 28

Colwyn Bay 24 6 7 11 36 52 25

Leek Town 24 5 6 13 20 34 21

Frickley 25 4 7 14 25 56 19

Spennymoor 26 2 3 21 22 65