TWO front row pals who have scrummed down together since they were 11, are in the Newcastle Falcons team for the club's Heineken European Cup debut tonight.

"I can't wait," said hooker Christian Balshen, generally known as Billy, as he prepared for the 6.15 kick-off at home to Newport.

Alongside him at tight head will be James Isaacson, making Wallsend's Micky Ward the senior member of the front row at 22.

Balshen will be 22 in November and Isaacson two months later, and also in their year at school was scrum half Hall Charlton, who will be on the bench tonight.

As they also had Michael Stephenson and Bristol's Lee Best in their team, it is no surprise that they reached the Daily Mail Cup semi-finals at under 15 level and twice as under 18s.

They were coached by Nick Willings and Paul Gerrard, and Balshen said: "Nick told James and I when we were 11 that we could play for England and that has to be our ambition.

"I started with Hall Charlton and Mike Stephenson in Durham City minis when I was seven. James didn't start until he was 11, but he's pretty good at most sports and took to it straightaway."

Born in Newcastle, Balshen lived in Durham from an early age while Isaacson's family home is at Easington.

They joined the Falcons academy straight from school and will both be making only their third senior start.

"It's really good," said Balshen. "Newport are a renowned club, but London Irish had a good scrum last week and I don't think we're going to face anything better than them.

"We've had a lot of help from the senior players and I learnt a lot from the Queensland coach Alec Evans, who came over to help us for two weeks."

Liam Botham's determination not to be upstaged by teammates who have moved ahead of him in the England pecking order sees him keep his place on the right wing following his return against London Irish.

Stephenson, who played on the left in last Sunday's excellent win, makes way for Inga Tuigamala, while skipper Pat Lam and scrum half Gary Armstrong also return to add experience.

Epi Taione's conversion from blockbusting winger to big-hitting blind side flanker continues, while Rob Devonshire is at open side with slight doubts about the fitness of Richard Arnold and Jon Dunbar.

Lam won the European Cup with Northampton two years ago and believes that Newcastle can make an impact after waiting three years for their chance.

After Lam helped them win the Premiership in 1998 English clubs boycotted the European event the following season and Newcastle have since played in the second tier event, the European Shield, losing last year's final to Harlequins.

Victory over Quins in the Tetley's Bitter Cup final secured their place in the Heineken event, thanks partly to holders Leicester qualifying on three fronts.

Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "We said we would bring European Cup rugby to Newcastle and we've done that.

"The Heineken Cup was one among many reasons for bringing Pat Lam back to the club for one final year. His experience will be vital because we're in a very tough group."

It might, in fact, be the toughest of all the six groups with Leinster and previous winners Toulouse also involved.

Falcons visit Dublin to play Leinster next Friday and face Toulouse on successive Saturdays, away on October 27 and at home on November 3. There is then a break from European competition until the visit of Leinster on January 6.

l Darlington Mowden Park go into their Senior Knockout Cup second round match at Waterloo today knowing that victory will give them a home tie in the next two rounds. Although the RFU neglected to publicise the fact, the third and fourth round draws were made together. Mowden would expect to win at home to Dudley Kingswinford in round three on October 13 after which they would entertain Kendal, Doncaster or Manchester on November 3.

Manchester, the likeliest candidates, are in Division One, currently in mid-table one place above Birmingham/Solihull, who were lucky to win at home to Mowden in last year's fourth round