DARLINGTON Mowden Park welcome back hooker Santiago Socino as they attempt to stop the rot at home to Esher today.

After six games without a point they are desperate for a win against a side who are three places above them in National One.

Mowden have been short of tries recently, but will hope to get the better of a fast, open game against a side who have conceded 77 points in their last two outings.

Socino is seen as a hooker by Newcastle Falcons, but is equally at home in the back row and helps to add fluency to Mowden's play.

Also back after injury is Joe Craggs, who is selected at lock with plenty of back row men available.

They have opted for a trio of Brandon Staples, Luca Petillo and David Fisher, with Rory Duff having to settle for the bench.

He is joined by Gareth Nesbit as injuries and the suspension of James Penman continue to deplete the front row.

Fly half Warren Seals will make his first home appearance since his return on loan from Yorkshire Carnegie, and Adam Radwan is back on the wing following his recent Falcons debut.

Blaydon visit Ampthill without their dual-registered players other than prop Andrew Foster. But with Chris Wearmouth and Gavin Jones restored to the starting line-up, they field a strong pack.

Frazer Wilson and Dan Marshall are injured, so Kris Bratten and Tom Grimes are on the wings, with Tom Small and Tom Bramwell in the centre and Ryan Foreman at full back.

Tynedale will be looking for a third successive win in National Two North when Luctonians make the long journey from Herefordshire for a 2pm kick-off.

Billingham's scheduled visit to Doncaster Phoenix in Three North has become a home match, for which they retain Chris Dobson at scrum half.

After dropping points away to close challengers Penrith and Alnwick in North One East, West Hartlepool face another tough away match at Pocklington.

Peter Youll, Ryan Painter and Aaron Myers are unavailable, while Jay Corbett has joined Michael Hogan and Sam Miller on the casualty lst.

Joe Rafferty is fit to return at lock and Matt Siddle continues at scrum half. Liam Checksfield switches from wing to centre.

After defying injuries to pull off an encouraging win at Malton and Norton, Durham City again have Luke and Thomas Elliott on the wings at home to Driffield.

In the absence of Bradley Pears, Craig Dominick and Garry Izomor form a powerful centre pairing. Chris Metcalfe returns at open side with Dan Holden at No 6.

It's bottom v top in Durham and Northumberland One as struggling Ryton attempt to find a way to stop rampant Barnard Castle.

Middlesbrough hope Sean Richardson will have recovered from illness for the home game against Medicals, who are battling hard to overcome their ten-point deduction.

Stockton, who have won four of their last five, host Westoe, who are second after winning their last five. Liam Healey is unavailable, but Stockton hope Martin Dixon will be free from work fill the gap in the back row.