BLAYDON welcome back Scott Riddell from Scotland Sevens duty at the Commonwealth Games for today’s home match against Coventry.

The versatile flanker will play at open side as Blaydon attempt to shrug off last week’s mauling at Macclesfield and climb away from the lower reaches of National One.

Riddell, who was educated at Stewart’s Melville School in Edinburgh, captained Northumbria University and played for Mowden Park before joining Blaydon.

“Scott was a key man for us last year and he’s going to prove the same again,” said Director of Rugby Tom Rock.

“He’s probably the most complete player we have at the club in terms of his all-round skills and abilities.

“Flanker is his best position, but he has featured all over the place, from wing to scrumhalf.

There are very few players that could command a starting spot in so many positions.

He’s a very sharp guy, so we’re delighted he’s back.”

The return of Riddell, who is also West Hartlepool’s community coach, forces a reshuffle in which Gavin Jones switches to lock and Andrew Archibald drops to the bench.

After last week’s 33-0 defeat Rock said: “When we’ve lost before we’ve always been in contention. The lads didn’t need a big telling-off from me as they were devastated. They responded well in training so we’ll be looking to use the hurt to spur us on.”

Andrew Baggett, on the bench for the last two weeks, returns at fly half with Ed Yarnton moving out to centre as Matt Clark is rested.

Having already visited Launceston this season, Tynedale get their Cornish trips out of the way when they again fly down to face Redruth.

After being unbeaten in their opening five games, Tynedale have lost the last two, with coach Tom Borthwick observing: “It was a totally out-of-character performance by us against Rosslyn Park. We seemed to lack our usual energy and enthusiasm.

“We had as much ball as them but they were more direct.

What disappointed me was a five-minute spell where we effectively lost the game.

We fell off our tackles and shipped three tries.”

Mowden Park will field an unchanged line-up at home to Billingham, except that James Knox will switch to blind side with George Studd moving up to partner coach Pete Taylor in the second row.

Studd, a new signing from Durham, is one of several Mowden players who are at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Billingham are next to the bottom of National Three North with only one win but Taylor said: “We will not be under-estimating them at all.

It’s a derby and we just want to win the game.”

Billingham benefited from switching brothers Joe and Peter Evans in the second half last week, when they came back with four tries against Lymm.

This time Joe will start at fly half, with Peter at outside centre.

Paul Burgum starts at blind side and Danny Dixon replaces Dan Youdale at tight head.

West Hartlepool entertain Old Crossleyans with Stephen Stockdale in the back row as Paul Rudd still has a back problem and Adam Howard is unavailable. Carl Robinson comes in at prop and Paul Moss replaces Peter Hodgson at centre.

Hartlepool Rovers will be seeking their first win of the season at Durham City, for whom Mark Cammiss retains his place at tight head after coming in as a late replacement last week following injury.

Adam Morton, who is back from Tynedale, replaces Will Kirtley at centre and Charlie Plummer is on the wing for Alex Sinkinson.

Darlington are without centre Andy Pugh and winger David Mackfaul for the trip to Sunderland.

Connor Esler, who scored two tries as a replacement full back last week, comes in on the wing, Henry Carver moves up to centre and Warren Peterson is at full back.

Stockton entertain Alnwick, who are just below them in D and N One. Additions to the lengthy casualty list include prop Simon Brown with a leg muscle injury and lock Craig Tennant with a torn bicep.

Former Darlington player Jim Dickinson starts after several games as the front row replacement and Phil Douglas reverts to the second row, allowing Scott Powell to return at No 8 after his shoulder injury.

■ An RFU disciplinary panel will meet at the Durham Marriott Hotel on Tuesday to hear the case of Manu Kirkwood (Beverley, who has been cited by Mowden Park for alleged dangerous tackling.