MIDDLESBROUGH have suspended hooker Richard Horton and back row man Martin Dixon ahead of tomorrow’s first league meeting with Billingham.

Dixon has been denied the chance to face his former team-mates as Boro have decided to act pending the RFU hearing into the duo’s sending off at Birkenhead Park last week.

Boro were not happy about having two men dismissed during a flare-up they claim was sparked by a stamping by a home forward.

Birkenhead’s only punishment was one yellow card.

Dixon’s absence means a first start of the season for coach Martin Howe, who will provide the experience at No 8 alongside talented young flankers Rory Duff and Carl Kirwan.

Ben Horton replaces his cousin and there’s a league debut in the second row for ex-colt Connor Hurley, while Matthew Todd switches to full back with Jamie Muncer back at centre.

The sides met regularly when Billingham were a force in the 1960s, but their decline saw the fixture disappear and until their recent promotions they were always two or three rungs below Boro in the league structure.

Westoe will be seeking to avenge last season’s two defeats by Harrogate when they entertain the Yorkshire club tomorrow.

The 29-14 home defeat last September was Westoe’s first reverse on home turf for almost two years, while in the return match in a mudbath at Claro Road in March the hosts snatched a 19-17 win with a converted try in the last minute.

Westoe have won all five matches in National Two North while Harrogate, fourth last season, have lost their last four games after starting with a win against Nuneaton.

There seems to be a split developing in the 16- team table with Westoe among an unbeaten quartet alongside Fylde, Loughborough Students and Leicester Lions.

Director of rugby Andy Howells is aware that his team have yet to meet any of the other top sides and said: “We are still working to improve ourselves and need to keep our feet firmly on the ground. Sterner tests lie ahead.”

While Paul Bird made his 200th start for the club last week, his usual second row partner Matthew Muchall now fears his knee injury will keep him out for the whole season.

A scan has revealed a torn cruciate and damaged medial ligament.

When Newcastle Falcons Academy beat hosts Leeds Carnegie 37-27 this week the team included Westoe captain Gareth Nesbit, fellow prop Raymie Elliott and back row man Miles Scott, along with ex-teammate James Fitzpatrick, now a contracted Kingston Park man. In the Leeds side was Oliver Stedman, a Westoe product.

Stockton, now second in D and N One, host Ashington, who were unbeaten until last weekend’s 100-0 defeat at Darlington, who lost 35-7 at Stockton the previous week.

Stockton will be without try-scoring full back Tom Jeffery for six weeks with the shoulder injury so Simon Crozier switches back from the wing, allowing Ritchie Brown to return. It is hoped that Steve Thornton will be fit enough to reclaim a centre berth, so Paul Armstrong becomes a replacement.

In the pack Craig Tennant returns in the second row for Todd Highfield.

Phil Austen, an replacement at Gosforth, is unavailable.