AS Blaydon prepare to go all out for promotion from National Three North they are worried they might face a three-week wait for a play-off for which skipper Dave Guthrie would not be available.

Rivals Nuneaton have succeeded in having next week's trip to leaders Bradford and Bingley postponed until April 29 because they have three players in the England Counties squad to play France Amateurs.

There is also a fear that Nuneaton's match at Cleckheaton today will be frozen off and rearranged for May 6, forcing the promotion play-off date to be put back to May 13.

By that time Guthrie will be touring South Africa with the British Police squad and Blaydon will not have played for three weeks should all their matches go ahead on schedule.

Even if today's visit of New Brighton falls victim to the frost it can be played next week, when both clubs have a free date.

Having won 41-9 at New Brighton this season, Blaydon are resting centre Martin Shaw, lock Paul Clark, hooker Matt Hall and prop Paul Winter.

They are also without fly half Dan Clappison because of an elbow injury, while after scoring nine tries in seven games winger Andrew Fenby is playing in the British Universities squash finals in Birmingham.

Another Newcastle student, Dan Graney, will be at fly half, Rob Windle comes in at centre and Nick Williams at scrum half, with James Kyle reverting to the wing.

Hooker Paul Ritson, prop Ivan Nola, lock Dave Marwick and flanker Paul Brady come into the pack.

An entertaining match is in prospect at Tynedale, who will be looking to move back above visitors Darlington into fifth place.

Tynedale's only home defeat this season was against Mowden Park in September, but Darlington's player coach Craig Lee said: "We normally do well against them. We beat them comfortably at home and it's usually a tight game up there."

The threat on the wing of Hamish Smales, who like Darlington lock Richard Snowball is in the England Counties squad for next Saturday's French trip, could prompt the visitors to recall Frankie Coulson in place of Adam Kibirige.

There is also a slight doubt about Rob Stewart, who suffered some muscular damage to his previously broken arm last week. If he has to drop out Simon Crozier will switch from wing to centre.

Lee believes Stewart has a future at centre, saying: "He's always said he wants to play scrum half, but he has enjoyed himself at centre in the last few weeks because we are playing good rugby and he has been involved.

"It will also give him a different outlook if he does go back to scrum half."

Mowden Park are at home in the first of two successive games against bottom club Kendal and are without prop Ian Keeligan through illness, No 8 Gavin Stainsby, and newcomers Anthony Mellaieu and Rob Kalbraier, who were both injured in a midweek university game.

On the plus side the pacy Michael Breen returns at full back after a full recovery from the nasty knee injury he suffered in September, while Danny Brown and Junior Fagalilo are back in the front row. Andrew Tonkin will play at blind side with Eni Gisende switching to No 8, and skipper Iain Dixon will be at fly half.

In North Two East third-placed Durham City will hope that West Hartlepool can do them a favour by winning at home to leaders Penrith.

City entertain Alnwick with Dan Kyle back at fly half after a lengthy absence through injury. Nick Howe switches to centre with Richard Knowles dropping to the bench as he is not full fit.

Tomas Bieliauskas comes in for winger Chris Mattison and Mike Powell replaces shoulder injury victim Graham Herbert at tight head.

West have lost Brett Cullinane to a six-week ban following his dismissal against Stockton, so Tim Sawyer will be hooking with Carl Miller joining the Boatman brothers, Dan and Jonny, in the back row.

Chris Lambert will be on the wing, even though he departs with the colts at 8am tomorrow for their national cup quarter-final at Old Northamptonians.

*Newcastle Falcons Director of Rugby Rob Andrew was last night inducted into the club's new Hall of Fame at the inaugural dinner.

He was joined by Inga Tuigamala as the two players from the professional era receiving most votes in a fans' poll. Jonny Wilkinson did not make the shortlist of five.

Also in the Hall of Fame are former England captain Roger Uttley, one of the founder playing members of the Gosforth club from 1877, Wilfred Farr, and J Stanley Armstrong, who was involved with the club for 69 years.

The Falcons have awarded new two-year contracts to two of their academy products, Stockton-born lock Geoff Parling and former England Under 21 flanker Ben Woods.

Both have featured prominently in the first team this season, with 22-year-old Parling making 16 starts, while Woods has come back from a badly-broken leg which kept him out for 18 months.