BLAYDON will be counting the cost as they board the 7.30 London train this morning for their match against National One leaders Barking.

With funding for clubs at this level due for a further cut next season, they would receive more from the RFU if they were to travel by coach and arrange an overnight stay.

But the extra cost of travelling by train, or plane in the case of getting to Cornwall, is not met.

A Blaydon spokesman said: “There have been discussions this week about increasing the funding for Championship teams. That means taking more money away from us. We had to make up a shortfall of £30,000 this season, which we managed to do through sponsorship. But now we stand to lose a further £17,000.

“When a Newcastle Falcons home match was televised recently the commentator said that Blaydon and Tynedale were the lifeblood of rugby in this area, supplying players for the Falcons. But in the next breath the RFU are taking all this money off us.

“We tell them we want to keep travelling time to a minimum for the benefit of our players’ welfare. They would pay overnight expenses for us to play at Cambridge, for example, but we would rather get there and back in the day by train.

“We have students who are training with us twice a week and playing university rugby on Wednesdays. Some of them find it too much and we have already lost Scotland Under 20s hooker Mungo Strachan this season for that reason.”

Two more students, fly half Ed Yarnton and centre Matt Clark, made bright starts with the club this season but have been showing signs of strain.

Yarnton was a late withdrawal last week and is selected in the seconds today, with Andrew Baggett continuing at fly half in an unchanged team.

Otley, who got into financial difficulties two years ago and lost all but two of their players, visit Tynedale today.

The Yorkshire club recruited heavily from Leeds Carnegie in rebuilding their side and after narrowly surviving in this division they currently lie 11th after losing 41-24 at home to Barking last week.

After their flying start Tynedale have suffered three successive defeats and have not been helped by some players being unavailable to travel to Redruth and London Scottish.

Darlington Mowden Park visit Waterloo in National Three North and hand a debut to Michael Forde, a 26-year-old lock from New Zealand.

He has played a high standard in Christchurch and replaces coach Pete Taylor, whose boots are back in the cupboard after being dusted off for the last two games.

He replaced Andy Wilson, who will be on the bench today along with Richie Young. His place at full back goes to Charlie Simpson- Daniel, with Todd Harrison at scrum half.

After improved defence saw them push Mowden close last week, Billingham are unchanged for the visit of second- placed Chester.

West Hartlepool visit Percy Park in a top-of-the-table battle in North One East and Scott Jordan will have the goal-kicking duties on his return from injury at full back.

Paul Moss, who has been struggling with an injury, is rested but Darren Thomas is fit to play on the wing against a team whose player-coaches, James Ponton and Martin Shaw, are ex-West players.

Hartlepool Rovers will be desperate for their first win at home to Driffield, who are just above them.

Lock Michael Thubron returns and Tom Wilson is selected at full back, with Tom King at scrum half.

Darlington will be without exciting young centre Cameron Mitchell for the visit of Medicals as he suffered a fractured jaw last week.

Richard Snowball and Henry Carver are rested as part of a rotation system, with Director of Rugby Bryan Baldwin saying: “Our success this season has helped attract new players to the club.

“That is what we want and it is creating great competition.”