DARLINGTON Mowden Park are itching to end their current losing streak when they welcome Blackheath to the Northern Echo Arena on Saturday.

A 43-16 defeat at bottom club Macclesfield made it four losses on the trot for Mowden Park, but the squad have remained positive and are prepared for the visit of the league’s third placed club.

Blackheath have made an excellent start to the campaign with eight wins in ten matches, as well as five bonus points, placing them in the bronze medal spot.

Both sides are evenly matched at two wins apiece in recent years, but Mowden Park thumped rugby’s oldest open club 50-10 in this meeting two years ago.

Manager Gus Miller is likely to name an unchanged side except for Joe Craggs, who is out for a month after picking up a shoulder injury at Macclesfield. Stone Priestly-Nangle may step up from the bench.

Charlie Capps, dual registered with Championship side Yorkshire Carnegie, is in the squad along with Chris Wood who could start at hooker.

Macclesfield’s victory shoved Blaydon to the bottom of the pile after an injury-time try consigned them to a 19-17 defeat at Coventry.

Manager Jim Huxley was outraged when his side were not given a penalty try after centre Tom Grimes was taken out by a player in an offside position, leaving him concussed.

Despite the controversial result, Huxley was pleased with the performance and feels they should have come away from the league’s big-spenders with more than a bonus point.

This week, they hope to bounce back against Hull Ionians, a side also languishing at the foot of the table.

Blaydon will be buoyed by the presence of influential captain Keith Laughlin on the bench. The England Counties XV captain has been out for seven weeks with a broken hand.

In National League Two North, back-to-back defeats have dropped Tynedale to tenth in the table but a trip to struggling Scunthorpe may boost a push towards the top half.

Scunthorpe will be hurting after a 52-5 thumping at Sale last week, giving Tynedale a perfect opportunity to pick up some vital points.

Bottom side Harrogate travel to Sedgley Park after picking up a rare win against fellow strugglers Wharfedale last weekend.

Billingham feature in a top of the table clash in National League Three North when they travel to second-placed Rossendale.

Billingham lost their grip on the top two and dropped to fourth, six points behind Rossendale, following a defeat at home to Cleckheaton.

After Alnwick’s 22-20 defeat at Pocklington, unbeaten West Hartlepool stretched their lead at the top of North East One to eight points.

Alnwick dropped to third but are hoping to cut the gap on Saturday when they face the league leaders at Greenfield Avenue.

Durham and Northumberland One's top two go head-to-head as Northern play host to Barnard Castle. League leaders Northern lead their promotion rivals by one point.

In Division Two, league leaders Redcar travel to third placed Bishop Auckland.