BLAYDON will be without their Newcastle Falcons men when they seek their first National One win of the season at home to Loughborough Students today.

The dual-registered contingent of prop Andrew Foster, half backs Ruaridh Dawson and Brett Connon, winger Dan Marshall and young centre Ben Stevenson are required for a Falcons Development XV match on Monday night.

There is a dispute over Stevenson as the Yarm School product, who starred for Blaydon at the end of last season, is now at Durham University, who do not like their players appearing in club rugby.

Blaydon are short of centres as another Falcons man, Tom Penny, has a broken arm and Tom Small pulled a hamstring at Mowden Park last week. So James Cooney moves inside with Fraser Wilson coming in on the wing.

The two experienced ex-Falcons up front, hooker Matt Thompson and flanker Jason Smithson, are also missing. Thompson is unavailable and is replaced by Jack Beckwith, while Smithson was concussed last week.

Andrew Archibald switches to the back row and his place at lock goes to Anthony Davies, who has come up through the juniors.

The Falcons have made Santiago Socino available for Mowden, so he starts at hooker in the tough match at Ampthill, with Dave Penman switching to loose head.

Argentinian lock Seb Freydell returns to the starting line-up, allowing Joe Craggs to revert to the back row. Rory Duff continues at No 8 with skipper Ollie Hodgson out for up to eight weeks.

Jamie Barnard comes in at full back with Caolan Ryan switching to fly half for Sam Allan, who drops to the bench, where he is joined by the versatile Callum Mackenzie.

Chris Auld and Ben Frankland team up at centre with Joel Gill moving out to the wing.

Ampthill have won their two opening games and are able to name highly-rated former Blaydon flanker Rob Bell on the bench.

Billingham are able to select Anth Rumis for the first time this season for the visit of Waterloo in Three North and he is partnered at lock by Dom McAlorum. Danny Dixon returns at No 8.

West Hartlepool aim to build on their good start in North One East with another win at home to Driffield.

They are without Chris Atkins, who damaged knee ligaments last week, and Zac Southern, who pulled a hamstring. Luke Mallinson is at full back, with Eldon Myers back on the wing, while Jay Corbett returns to the second row.

After a draw and a defeat, Durham City will be looking for their first win since promotion when they entertain Wheatley Hills.

Another promoted club, Barnard Castle, are happy with their start in Durham and Northumberland One, where they lie sixth after two tough away games.

Their first home match is against Gosforth, which would have seemed unthinkable in the days when the club of that name twice won the John Player Cup 40 years ago.

Former Mowden winger Chris McTurk scored a try and kicked three conversions as Barney put up a brave fight at Gateshead last week, coming back from 31-12 down to lose 31-26.

Jack Marston crowned an impressive debut with a try and hooker Danny Souter also scored his first for the club.

Gosforth won with the last kick at home to Stockton, who host promoted Hartlepool, who have also lost their first two games.

No 8 Martin Dixon and winger Chris Farrell are working, but Stockton are able to recall versatile Todd Highfield.

Dan Muirhead returns to the front row so Tom Nelson drops back to blind side. Full back Steven Tampin plus centres Jonny Horner and Steve Thornton all return.

Middlesbrough again include young half backs Jay Ellis and Angus McColl for the tough match at Northern. Euan Tremlett is again available up front, but not his brother, Toby.

Following their first win for over a year at Blyth last week, Darlington entertain the club who came down with them, Ponteland, in D & N Two.