DARLINGTON Mowden Park are determined to avoid a repeat of last year's flat finish by ending the season on a high.

With five games left, starting at home to Fylde today, they can still climb a couple of places from seventh in National One and they want to do it in style.

Tries have been in short supply since the electrifying burst which produced five in 30 minutes against Hartpury College, but attack-minded visitors should ensure a high-speed game.

Mowden finished last season with heavy defeats at Blaydon and at home to relegated Old Albanians, and Director of Rugby Danny Brown said: “We have spoken about that and we are determined to go out on a high this time. We have five tough games left but we can win them all and finish in the top six.

“Fylde are in mid-table with nothing to lose and they will probably want to chuck it around, so it could be a very entertaining game.”

Mowden, however, continue to be hampered by injury with flankers Luca Petillo and Ali Bone not quite ready to return, while leading try scorer Simon Uzokwe has joined the casualty list.

With Callum Mackenzie pressed into service on the wing in the absence of Jake Henry, local lads Rory Duff and Joe Craggs are handed a start in the back row.

Skipper Gareth Nesbit returns on the bench after missing the last two games with a neck injury and winger Peter Homan is also back after a two-month absence.

Lock Rob Conquest is close to full fitness but is again replaced by Talite Vaioleti.

Brown added: “I have never known anything like it injury-wise. We had 22 backs at the start of the season and before the last game at Hull we were down to seven.”

Blaydon have fly half Brett Connon back from Ireland Under 20 duty for the trip to Rosslyn Park, but Tom Penny and Zach Kibirige are injured.

A last-minute try by Penny secured a 24-15 bonus point win for the Newcastle Falcons Development XV at Gloucester this week, sealing their place in the Aviva A League semi-finals.

But he emerged with an ankle problem, while Kibirige's troublesome hamstring is again letting him down.

Andrew Baggett switches to centre for Blaydon with Tom Grimes and Frazer Wilson on the wings. Will Witty returns to the second row with Andrew Archibald in the back row as Gavin Jones drops to the bench.

He is joined there by another back row man Matthew Jenkinson, who was injured in early season and has been unavailable recently while shining in university rugby.

Tynedale are to play their remaining two home matches at Kingston Park, against Otley today and Sandal in two weeks, when the kick-off will be at 6.30.

Youth rugby is again up and running at Corbridge while work continues on the clubhouse following December's flood. The RFU have made donations towards new boilers and showers, plus flood-proofing.

Billingham are spoilt for choice in the backs at home to Waterloo in National Three North. With former Mowden and Darlington centre Adam Gardner settled in the side, they also have the pace of Elliott Husband and Adam Radwan available. Andrew Evans is competing with Dan Finney for the scrum half berth.

Middlesbrough entertain Consett and must hope that Durham City slip up at Horden if the battle for the automatic promotion spot in Durham and Northumberland One is to go to the wire.

Darlington have four games left in which to find their first win of the season, starting at Hartlepool Rovers.

Fly half Jeremy Good is among several key players missing for Stockton at Ryton so they will blood more sons of former players, including scrum half Tom Brown and back row man James Graham. Craig Slaughter returns in the backs and Jack Hodgson joins the pack.