DARLINGTON Mowden Park will be going flat out for their first home win since November, plus a four-try bonus, against Kendal today, writes TIM WELLOCK.

The only team below them in National Three North, Halifax, were the last team to be defeated at Yiewsley Drive.

But expectations are high as Mowden continue their late attempt to pull off the great escape.

After a win and a draw away to topfour teams in the last two weeks, the deficit which saw them 16 points adrift of safety is now down to 11. The team they need to catch, Huddersfield, have a tough game at home to second- placed Fylde.

Potentially the gap could come down to six points with three games left and as Mowden visit the Yorkshire club on May 9, chairman of rugby Mike Keeligan said: “It’s all to play for.

“We didn’t play quite as well last week as in the win at Macclesfield, but a draw at Caldy was a good result.”

Mowden have hooker Howie Murray back in an otherwise unchanged team as they keep faith with flankers Andrew Tonkin and Andy Wilson.

Cinderford, the team who beat Mowden by one point in a promotion playoff last season, are safe in National Two, which is not the case for today’s visitors, Blaydon.

Blaydon will be desperate for five points at home to bottom club Waterloo next week if their injury-hit squad fail to take anything from today’s game.

Skipper Dave Guthrie is out with concussion, the three backs with Newcastle experience, Andrew Fenby, Martin Shaw and Adam Dehaty, are all injured, and Peter Browne may be required by the Falcons.

There is also a doubt about the availability of Ben Mercer, who is pencilled in to partner Paddy Dias at centre, with James Clark standing by. Chris Wearmouth comes in for Guthrie and Simon Barber will be on the wing.

After surviving the visit of long-time leaders Redruth two weeks ago, Tynedale’s 36-game unbeaten home league run will be tested by the new front-runners, Birmingham and Solihull.

Westoe can clinch the North One title by winning their final game at Beverley, and even if they lose they would probably still finish ahead of Hull on points difference.

Middlesbrough’s recent good form should see them sign off with a home win against West Hartlepool, whose only away win has been at Darlington.

West are without Aaron Myers, Gareth Kerr and Paul Williamson. The Boatman brothers, Dan and Jonny, are in the back row, Peter Hodgson returns at centre and Darren Thomas is at scrum half.

Middlesbrough will hand a senior debut to colt Peter Whitaker at scrum half as Peter Wright suffered an ankle injury in the final seconds of last week’s game.

Skipper Richard Horton returns to bolster the pack, along with Iain Bradford and Rory Duff, who replaces Matthew Wright in the back row.

After winning their last two games, a victory for Darlington at Birkenhead Park would give them a glimmer of hope of avoiding relegation.

Dave Richardson has failed to recover from the injury he suffered against Sheffield Tigers, so Tom Bivens switches to centre, with Tony Taylor coming in on the wing. Mike Stowe will be hooking in place of Rob Goddard.

After leading the way for long periods in North Two East, Billingham go into their final game at home to Carlisle needing a favour from Durham City.

If City win at home to Old Crossleyans, Billingham can slip into the promotion play-off spot behind Penrith.

Stockton complete their Durham and Northumberland One programme at home to Gosforth, where they lost 9- 3 in the first league game of the season.

Returning to the squad are hooker Dan Muirhead, back row men Wayne Brown and Todd Highfield, fly half Jeremy Good and centre Paul Underwood.

There are injury doubts over Andy Bare, Tom Jeffery and teenager Dan Phinn, so a late decsion will be made at full back.

■ Newcastle Falcons No 8 Alex Gray will again captain England Under-18s against Ireland at the Home Nations Festival in Italy today after leading the side to a 75-0 victory over Scotland in Parma.

England ran in 11 tries, with head coach John Fletcher stating: “In the first half Scotland had a lot of possession and territory, but the difference was we made the most of our opportunities when we had the ball.

The Ireland match is going to be a tough game. They have already beaten Wales.”