BLAYDON have defused a potential row with neighbours Tynedale by arranging for their clash at Crow Trees to be put back a day to Sunday, February 28.
The England Counties XV are playing an Ireland club XV at Stourbridge on the evening of February 26, when Tynedale front row pair Joe Graham and Jonny Williams, plus centre Jack Harrison, are expected to be involved.
Already with cause to query why the Counties XV squad, managed by Northumberland’s Danny Hodgson, includes three from Tynedale but none from Blaydon, the Durham club were not happy about being asked to postpone the derby match until May 15 and have settled on the Sunday date.
After their six-week lay-off, Blaydon return to action at home to Redruth today and pick from strength. The only player not fully fit is lock Steve Tench, who has just returned to training.
In view of their England Students duties, back row man Mark Wilson and lock Andrew Archibald are on the bench. Adam Dehaty is at full back, with Andrew Baggett and James Fitzpatrick at centre.
Tynedale face a tough match at fourth-placed Cambridge, who have won all six of their home games, coming back from 21-0 down against Wharfedale to win 28-21.
Tynedale prop David Dickinson was carried off last Saturday with a knee injury, so there could be an opportunity for Kieran Brookes, who has been recruited from the Newcastle Academy.
He was on the bench for England Under 20s on Thursday night, when they beat Cambridge University 61-7 with Newcastle’s Tom Catterick scoring two tries. His clubmate and ex-Barnard Castle School colleague Alex Gray was in the back row alongside Will Welch, who played for Blaydon last season.
Middlesbrough will be back to almost full strength as they seek to end a run of seven games without a win at home to West Hartlepool, who climbed off the foot of National Three North through last Saturday’s home win against Sheffield Tigers.
Boro have four players back after injury – full back Jamie Muncer, fly half Simon O’- Farrell, hooker Richard Horton and flanker Carl Kirwan – while winger Andy Micklewright returns to senior action after two years of preferring social rugby.
Ex-Newcastle player Horton has seen little senior action this season because of a back problem, but even though his cousin Ben has proved an able deputy his return will provide a welcome boost.
West will be without Tim Sawyer, who had another knee operation yesterday, while Carl Robinson is working and Ian Wilson has a hamstring problem.
John Greenwell returns to the front row, and Peter Hodgson is back from injury to partner Jamie Conniolly in the centre.
Full back Scott Jordan is on Independent School Barbarians duty in Milton Keynes, so Colin Cheslin returns on the wing with Darren Thomas switching to full back.
Darlington Mowden Park coach Pete Taylor has included himself in the team to entertain Birkenhead Park, replacing Gareth Lodge, who is on army Rugby League duty.
Ian Hodgson returns at inside centre with Dean Kelbrick switching to full back.
“Sometimes you just have to get the boots on,” said Taylor.
“Birkenhead have a few old heads and they tend to play around the more experienced guys. I’m as fit as the rest of the lads and hopefully I can help to calm things down a bit.”
In North One East, promotion hopefuls Billingham visit Gateshead, while Darlington travel to Driffield and include Andy Pugh at centre following his return from Mowden. Lock Chris Oakley’s registration is not yet completed.
■ The Under 20s Northern County Championship starts tomorrow with last year’s beaten finalists Yorkshire facing Cheshire at New Brighton. Middlesbrough lock Lee Theakston is on the bench.
Durham host Cumbria at Gateshead, while Northumberland play Lancashire at Northern. The Durham v Northumberland match will be held at Bishop Auckland on February 28, while Yorkshire v Durham is at Malton and Norton on March 14.
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