CENTRE Fred Burdon has left Blaydon and signed a professional contract with Championship club Doncaster.

It was a brief return to Crow Trees for the Cambridge Blue, who has had trials with Newcastle Falcons and Gloucester and has now opted to move up one level.

After scoring a try in last week's home defeat by Blackheath, Burdon's exit allows the dangerous Matt Clark to revert to centre for today's trip to National One leaders Ealing Trailfinders.

John Embleton comes in on the wing and there are two other enforced changes in the backs as Andrew Baggett has had a minor wrist operation and full back Gavin Painter has a neck injury.

Former Ireland Under 20s player Elliot O'Brien comes in for his first game of the season after recovering from injury and will play at fly half, with Niall Rowark at full back.

The one change in the pack sees Ben Morris recalled at blind side with Gavin Jones dropping to the bench.

Ealing are unbeaten but have played only one other club in the top seven, while Blaydon have played all the other top teams and now lie eighth, one place below Tynedale, who visit Fylde.

There is still no sign of a return for Gavin Beasley, Richard Boyle, Jack Harrison and Johnny Williams, while back row man Sam Northcote-Green has now joined the casualty list.

Westoe kick off at 2pm at home to former Championship side Otley in National Two North, with David Haswell continuing to fill the fly-half shirt in the absence of player-coach Mark Bedworth.

No 8 Oliver Steadman will continue to act as the goal-kicker ahead of his hearing at Brighouse on Monday following his sending-off for striking in the game against Stockport on October 8.

Injuries have allowed young players like prop Fraser Kirkley and ex-Middlesbrough flanker Rory Duff a chance to shine and they retain their places against a side who have won three of their seven games. Otley include former Westoe player Peter Tennant.

Darlington Mowden Park introduce another Northumbria University student into their second row in the shape of Tom Schofield for the trip to Penrith in National Three North.

They have already tried two young locks alongside Andy Wilson, but Pierce Phillips is injured, while Chris Campbell is rested.

Danny Dixon returns at prop, with Ralph Appleby dropping to the bench, as does Andrew Tonkin to allow skipper Junior Fagalilo to start.

Liam Riley, who had an England Colleges trial this week, will continue in the back row but there are two changes in the backs as Chris Peace and Max Connon are unavailable.

Chris McTurk switches to centre, with Andrew Jones on the wing, while Paul Shepherd returns after injury at full back.

West Hartlepool are at home to Bradford and Bingley, who have scored more than 100 points in the last two games while West have remained scoreless.

Andrew Foreman returns at scrum half with brother Gareth moving back to fly half and Stu Waites to full back. Colin Cheslin returns on the wing in place of injured brother Andrew, while Andrew Stockdale is back at No 8 with Jonny Boatman moving to open side in place of the injured Michael Taylor.

The Bees' fly half is Phil Greaves, who played at centre for West in the 1998/99 season.

North One East leaders Billingham play host to Durham City, while second-placed Middlesbrough entertain bottom club Gateshead.

Paul Norris makes his first senior start of the season for Boro alongside Rob Bellerby at centre, with Sean Richardson at fly half.

Ex-colt Ben d'Cuna makes his senior debut at prop, Craig Chapman dropping to the bench along with Iain Bradford, who makes way for the return after injury of lock Lee Theakston.

Durham and Northumberland One leaders Darlington are at home to Sunderland, who have recovered from a poor start by winning their last three games. Richard Snowball returns for Chris Anderson in the hosts' only change.

Two sides who have lost only once meet at Alnwick, where visitors Stockton include player-coach Craig Lee at fly half with Jeremy Good switching to full back. Mark Gilchrist comes in at prop with Simon Brown stepping down to the bench.