BLAYDON will have former England Saxons scrum half Hall Charlton making his debut today as they seek to halt two losing runs.

They have never beaten Wharfedale at home in four meetings, while five successive defeats have left Blaydon on the fringe of the relegation battle in National One.

They won at Grassington last season but are desperate for a home win today against the side who are next to the bottom.

Blaydon will be relying heavily on their half backs with Andrew Baggett reverting to fly half against his former club. After playing at centre last week he will team up with Charlton for the first time.

After 13 seasons with Newcastle Falcons, 31-year-old Charlton joined Blaydon as player-coach in the summer insisting that opportunities would be found for young scrum halves Matt Mellish and Lewis Crosbie.

But after a promising start Blaydon have slipped alarmingly and the time has come for Charlton to bring his class and experience to bear.

John Embleton is preferred to Gavin Painter at full back and David Sheldon comes in on the wing with Matt Clark moving back to centre.

Robbie Kalbraier returns at prop and Paul Vinnicombe starts in the second row with Gavin Jones switching to No 8 for Jason Smithson, who is on the bench after suffering a blow on the head last week.

Wharfedale, who have lost their last three matches by an aggregate of eight points, include two former West Hartlepool and Westoe players in winger Scott Jordan and flanker Aaron Myers.

Blaydon supplied five players to the Newcastle Falcons Development XV for Monday night's Aviva A League match against Leicester Tigers, which was played in front of a big crowd at Percy Park.

Prior to the match Jimmy Gopperth gave a kicking master class to coaches from across the region.

The Falcons lost the match 47-21 against a side which included West Hartlepool product Micky Young at scrum half.

Blaydon's Charles Incledon started at centre with Fraser Wilson again on the wing, Chris Wearmouth in the second row, Ben Morris at open side and centre Matt Clark on the bench.

Tynedale's shaky home form will be tested against league leaders Ealing Trailfinders today. The Londoners have lost just one of their 11 matches since last season's promotion and sit seven points clear at the top.

Westoe hope to stave off a hat-trick of defeats when they visit second-placed Caldy in National Two North.

After losing at Huddersfield and at home to leaders Loughborough, skipper Gareth Nesbit said: "We have reviewed last week's match and it was actually better than we thought. If we do what we are good at we can get back on the winning trail. We followed Caldy up into this league and since then they have been consistently near the top."

On their visit to the Wirral last March Westoe lost 41-39.

As Darlington Mowden Park seek their ninth successive win in National Three North they recall Dan Miller and skipper Junior Fagalilo to the front row and Neil Young at lock for the visit of Waterloo.

The Falcons Development XV trio of Cameron Mitchell, who impressed at full-back on Monday, Grant Connon and Ralph Appleby are all fit. Appleby will start, with Danny Dixon dropping to the bench, where he is joined by Matt Lister on his return from injury.

West Hartlepool hope to stretch away from the bottom five by winning away to bottom club Beverley.

Middlesbrough visit Sheffield in North One East, knowing this is the type of game they must win if they are to keep the pressure on leaders Billingham, who entertain Northern.

Sean Richardson returns at fly half for Boro, with Adrian Rose partnering Rob Bellerby at centre. Matthew Helm returns at loose head for the injured Ben d'Cuna and with hooker Richard Horton picking up a shoulder injury Ash Kearney will make his debut.

Durham and Northumberland One leaders Darlington visit Gosforth with hooker Rob Goddard and No 8 Kris Ward back in the pack.

Stockton, at home to Ponteland, are able to call on several of the eight front row forwards who were unavailable throughout the club last week.

Mark Conway returns at prop for Lewis Dodgson and Dan Muirhead comes in at hooker for Matt Austen.

Centre Steve Thornton is still struggling with his knee so Simon Crozier moves in from the wing and it is hoped Craig Slaughter will be fit to play on the wing.