BLAYDON have held talks with Newcastle Falcons’ boss Steve Bates in an effort to resolve the availability of highly- rated flanker Mark Wilson.

The Cumbrian began the season as Blaydon’s firstchoice No 6, but has found himself under pressure to play for Northumbria University as well as captaining the Falcons’ Development XV.

The fact that the university are the Falcons’ landlords may have some bearing on the matter and the talks have failed to resolve it, with Wilson again missing from Blaydon’s line-up at home to Newbury today.

It leaves the back row unbalanced as flankers Kerry Wood and Scott Riddell are both better suited to open side.

Director of Rugby Tom Rock reverts to scrum half after playing at centre for the last two games, which have both been lost. He feels the pack needs bossing around and he will be better placed to direct operations from No 9.

Andrew Baggett starts at centre, with Adam Dehaty returning at full back, Elliot O’Brien at fly half and Kevin McShane on the wing.

In the pack Alex McKenzie replaces unavailable prop Justin Clarke and Andrew Archibald makes his first start of the season in the second row, with Naude Pretorius dropping to the bench.

Tynedale have also suffered two successive defeats, for the first time since 2005, and with their home derby against Blaydon coming up next week they could be without skipper Andrew Murray.

He was sent off against Esher last week for disputing a yellow card, but Esher’s Director of Rugby, Mike Schmid, feels he should have been dismissed in the first place, allegedly for stamping on Lee Starling.

Schmid said on the club website: “I felt it should have been a straight red and there were one or two other incidents I wasn’t happy about.

Lee has a massive cut on his head and we will be having a look at the video to see if we should take it further.”

Murray’s RFU hearing will be held on Monday night at Brighouse.

Tynedale today visit Nuneaton, who are third from the bottom, and could have a problem at hooker as Joe Graham and his replacement, Matthew Fieldhouse, were both injured last week.

In National Three North, second-placed Middlesbrough are without prolific fly half Simon O’Farrell through injury for the tough match at Birkenhead Park.

Jamie Muncer deputises, with coach Paul Lee providing cover on the bench, while the other coach, Martin Howe, will start in the back row alongside Matt Wright and Martin Dixon.

First-choice No 8 Richie Barker moves up to the second row as Iain Bradford has joined Dave Hinchley on the casualty list.

Hinchley is likely to be out for some time with a shoulder problem, while hooker Richard Horton is also still sidelined with back trouble.

Darlington Mowden Park visit Cleckheaton without skipper Danny Brown, who broke his arm last week shortly after returning to full fitness following a similar injury.

Ralph Appleby returns at prop, with hooker Howie Murray resuming the captaincy while coach Peter Taylor makes his first start of the season at lock with Dan Squire switching to No 6.

New Zealander Mace Poloie continues at No 8 after his outstanding debut last week.

Another newcomer, ex-Bath University player Robin Eatough, is selected at centre alongside Andrew Pugh.

Dean Kelbrick switches to fly half and will do the goalkicking, with Richie Young dropping to the bench.

West Hartlepool entertain third-placed Penrith with hooker Tim Sawyer and lock Andrew Davies returning to add experience to the pack.

Harry Readhead returns to partner Phil Wallis at half back, with Paul Moss continuing at centre as Jamie Connolly has been unable to train and starts on the bench.

Unbeaten North One East leaders Billingham can expect to run up a big score at home to struggling Ilkley, while Darlington will be looking for a third successive win at home to Gateshead.

They have been hit by injuries, however, with both Baldwin twins ruled out.

Goal-kicker Nick broke a thumb in three places last week, while Mark has an ankle problem.

With skipper Lee Richardson still not fit, his brothers, Sean and Dave, team up at half back, with Alex Lineton and Matthew Brown at centre.

Aquila Tutora returns on the wing.

Dave Tunstead starts at prop as Joe Oselton, two-try hero of last week’s win at Durham City, is also injured.