DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK welcome Birmingham Moseley to the Arena tomorrow afternoon for their final game of the National One season.

Despite a testing campaign, Garry Law’s side have secured their National One survival ahead of the season finale.

"This season, more than any other, has been a weird one," said Mowden's director of rugby. "Looking back to when we first started pre-season, there were still the limitations in terms of what we could and couldn't do around the Covid protocols. It took what seemed an age to finally get the green light that we would be able to start the season as normal.

"Over the course of the season, we have had some really good performances mixed in with some sub-standard ones. Everyone is relieved to be back playing rugby following Covid and now the hope is we can get the standards back up to what we are more accustomed to and back competing in National One.

“We haven't performed well enough in the last two games to get the wins we wanted, so we are fully focused on the task in hand this Saturday against a good outfit in Moseley. They have transformed their game from being pack-forward dominated to a team who want to play a fast and exciting brand of rugby, which should allow for an open and all-action game."

Mowden sit in 12th spot in the National One table, six points behind tomorrow’s opposition. The two sides have a similar record this year, with both recovering from a shaky start to climb the table since Christmas.

The reverse fixture on the opening weekend of the season saw Moseley take a 23-22 win at Billesley Common thanks to a late try from Mason Tonks.

On the scoresheet that day was Euan McKirdy, who has scored every time he has faced today’s opponents. The Scottish scrum-half is in line for his 50th appearance for the club this weekend.

"I’m extremely pleased," said McKirdy. "Darlington Mowden Park is a great club with great supporters. I have been really fortunate to benefit from a lot of game time over the past two seasons and hopefully we can end the season on a high this weekend.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow's game, he added: “We’re expecting another fast and physical game against a team in a similar position to ourselves."

McKirdy starts at nine in a Mowden side that features three changes from last weekend’s defeat to Leeds Tykes. Two of those changes come in the pack, where Will Jones and Carl Guest come into the side, and Louie Johnson makes a welcome return at full-back having come back from Under-19s duty with England.