COACH Micky Ward sits out Blaydon's home match against Esher today because of a shoulder problem. But he is happy to give game time to two props who are interesting Newcastle Falcons.

Andrew Foster will take Ward's place with Durham University's James Hallam on the bench and both were in the Falcons A squad in Monday's

30-20 win at home to Gloucester.

Blaydon lock Chris Wearmouth and flanker Ben Morris also played and after a man of the match performance Morris is on the bench today, with Gavin Jones coming into the back row.

Tom Jeffery returns on the wing and Andrew Davies starts at scrum half after acting as understudy to Hall Charlton for the last two weeks.

Darlington Mowden Park will be looking for a fifth successive win at home to Stockport in National Two North.

Grant Connon, who was also in the Falcons A squad on Monday, will again start at fly half with his brother Max continuing on the wing as Sean McCartney is feeling his way back from injury in the second team at Billingham.

Of the other three young wingers who have appeared for Mowden this season, Sean Brown is on the bench, Ross Burton has an ankle injury and Jack Neville has gone to Cardiff University.

Skipper Junior Fagalilo returns at hooker and Rory Duff comes into the back row as Will McCauley is required to take charge of the Yarm School team.

Tom Schofield is unavailable because of university commitments, so another highly-rated young lock, Henry Forbes, is in the squad for the first time this season.

Stockport were promoted ahead of Mowden two years ago and finished in mid-table last season, but are currently third from the bottom.

After five defeats Westoe hope to break their duck at home to Hull after securing the return of lock Dan Palmer from Horden and scrum half Matthew Mellish from Blaydon.

They also hope to receive clearance for former Samoa international and ex-Glasgow Warriors star Lome Fa'atau to play.

Skipper Gareth Nesbit said: "We hope that people in the area can come along and get behind us because when we get the crowds in it is a very intimidating and hostile place for visitors."

West Hartlepool have been forced to ring the changes for the trip to Burnage in National Three North with Andrew Foreman, Anth Carr, Jonny Boatman and Scott Butcher all unavailable.

Steve Jones comes in on the wing, Andrew Rollins switches to prop with Andy Dixon at hooker, and Nathan Myers starts in the back row after making an impressive impact from the bench last week.

West trained for the first time this season on 3G at Dyke House School this week in preparation for the artificial surface at Burnage, who are just above them in the table.

After their one-point win at West last week, Billingham should consolidate their top six spot with another victory at home to Lymm.

Middlesbrough ill be without injured centre Paul Norris for the tough match away to North One East leaders Wheatley Hills.

Rhys Kilbride switches inside while Peter Whitaker moves to the wing to allow Peter Wright to return at scrum half after injury. Tom Symon takes over from coach Richard Horton at hooker.

The bottom two clubs, Darlington and Durham City, will be desperate for home wins against Morpeth and Pocklington.

City lost 46-0 at Morpeth last week, so it will not be easy for Darlington to stem the barrage of points they have conceded in the last three weeks.

They have Tom Wilkinson at No 8 for the first time this season, enabling Richard Snowball to switch to lock, while Henry Carver, Toby Lawson and Connor Esler return in the backs. Winger David Mackfall is ruled out by a dead leg.

In Durham and Northumberland One, Stockton will be hoping to bounce back from last week's disappointing defeat at second-placed Alnwick when they visit Horden. Skipper Mark Skirving and his fellow lock Steve Taylor are both injured, while Martin Howe and full back Marcus Sudron are unavailable.

But lock Phil Douglas boosts the squad for the first time this season, flankers Matt Wooten and Anthony Parkinson return, along with wing Dan Phinn and centre Barny Hopcroft. Second team Skipper Paul Armstrong is at scrum half in the absence of Rob Green, allowing Owain Jenkins to revert to full back.