DARLINGTON Mowden Park were waiting to hear last night whether they will be able to take Zylon McGaffin on loan for today’s match at Tynedale.

The South African scrum half scored the last-gasp try which clinched promotion to National One before joining Championship club Rotherham, who have no game today.

McGaffin has not been first choice with his new club and Mowden coach John Newton said: “He has had limited game time, although his time will come. He wants to play, but it would just be a short-term loan.”

The livewire scrum half would certainly give Mowden a lift for a key game in which they will be without goal-kicker Garry Law, who enjoyed a

100 per cent success rate in last week’s 29-29 draw against Fylde.

He has a hamstring strain so fitness and conditioning expert Jamie Barnard will be at centre with Tom Hodgson taking over the kicking duties.

He was switched to fly half last week with Newton explaining: “He has a nice pair of hands and we thought it would take some of the pressure off Garry. It worked very well, so hopefully Garry will be out for only one week.

“We have a tough run coming up. Tynedale are very strong at home and then we play the top six, starting at home to Ealing. We have been competing in all areas, but we need to start coming away with points when we get into the red zone.”

Flanker Jack Allcock, who was rested last week, returns on the bench with Callum Mackenzie continuing at open side.

There will soon be more competition for the back row with Talite Vaioleti seeing a specialist next week, hoping for the all clear to start contact work.

Of the two goal-kicking fly halves who are injured, Mark Ireland should be fit in three weeks and Grant Connon in six.

Some other players recently returned from injury will be in the second team, who also play at Tynedale today with a 1pm kick-off. The senior match starts at 2pm, while most local games kick off at 2.15 from today.

Tynedale took a depleted side to Hartpury College last week and lost

53-12 but will be stronger today and will hope for a repeat of the form which saw them win at home to Esher two weeks ago.

They are again expected to have the youngest of the three Connon brothers, Brett, at full back and could also include lock Glen Young and hooker David Nelson, who began last season with Mowden.

Blaydon visit Fylde without Andrew Baggett, who returned too soon from a knee injury and makes way for Tom Penny following Newcastle Falcons duty. He will be partnered at centre by last week’s man of the match, Tom Bramwell.

Coach Micky Ward makes his first start since the opening match after making a big impact from the bench last week. With Matt Hall alongside him, Blaydon will hope to dominate up front in a meeting which is always hotly-contested.

With Harry Bate still injured, local lad Matthew Jenkinson continues in the back row after scoring on his debut.

Billingham and Westoe are away to the joint leaders, Sale FC and Waterloo, in National Three North.

Fourth-placed Billingham are nine points behind, while Westoe remain next to the bottom and have recruited several students after suffering more injuries just when the casualty list seemed to be easing. Fly half Jordan Carey and centre Alex Clarke were injured last week.

West Hartlepool have goal-kicker Stu Waites back for the visit of Alnwick in North One East, naming him at full back with Zac Southern continuing at fly half. Jordan Baggs starts in the back row.

Middlesbrough hope to stay in contention for the play-off spot in Yorkshire One with a fifth win from the last six games at home to eighth-placed Scarborough.

After coming out of retirement two weeks ago, Peter Wright is again in the squad, even though the man he replaced at scrum half, Connor Foley, has recovered from injury. He could play on the wing.

Stockton entertain unbeaten Durham and Northumberland One leaders Morpeth, who are paying their first visit since 2006. Tom Nelson comes in at prop with Mark Conway switching to hooker, while flanker Martin Dixon, scrum half Rob Green and centre Craig Slaughter all return.

Jonny Horner will be at full back.

Darlington ring the changes for the visit of Blyth after last week’s thumping at Consett. Coach Gary Beck switches to centre with Adam Gardner on the bench, and in an exchange of farmers Tom Wilkinson deputises for Richard Snowball. He will have Dom McAlorum alongside him in the second row with Callum Farrand at open side, Andrew Tonkin, who began the season on the wing, is at blind side and Dan Hoare replaces hooker Rob Goddard.