FOR all the attraction of playing at the Northern Echo Arena, Darlington Mowden Park continue to lose their better players to a higher level.

Hooker Santiago Socino has joined fly half Caolan Ryan at Rotherham and will be on the bench for today's British and Irish Cup visit of Munster A. He is joined there by Matt Walsh, one of Mowden's scrum halves last season.

They also lost three players over the summer to today's visitors Coventry, although none is in the side. Rob Conquest has just recovered from concussion, but the Midlanders must be well off for back five forwards if they can leave out Tom Jubb and Ali Bone.

Mowden have James Penman back from suspension to take over at hooker, while Joe Craggs returns to the second row and Callum Mackenzie at blind side.

Mackenzie represented the club at the Dubai Sevens last week, when Brandon Staples lasted five minutes at Fylde before becoming the third No 8 to be injured in two weeks.

So extensive is the injury list that there is no back row cover on the bench, where props Darren Fearn and Gareth Nesbit are joined by James Fitzpatrick, Adam Radwan and triallist scrum half Miai Gibbs.

Tim Duchesne returns and is joined at half back by Josh Bragman, who was signed in the summer after impressing for Durhan County. He has recently been playing at full back, where Jamie Barnard takes over.

Coventry lie sixth but have won only once away from home and have lost on their previous two visits to Darlington.

Blaydon go to Rosslyn Park with prop Paddy Ryan, on loan from Newcastle Falcons, deputising for Andrew Foster, who was on the Falcons' bench at Lyon last night.

Brett Connon played in that match, so after appearing at full back for Blaydon last week his position goes to James Cooney with Frazer Wilson returning on the wing.

Jack Davidson is handed an outing at open side with Gavin Jones dropping to the bench, and Nathan Horsfall returns at scrum half.

Tynedale will be looking for a fifth successive win at home to former National One rivals Stourbridge in Two North.

Billingham are without skipper Peter Evans for the visit of Hull, so his brother Joe switches to fly half with ex-Mowden man Adam Gardner coming in at centre.

North One East leaders West Hartlepool should complete a double against Malton and Norton, having won there 34-20 in early September.

Although several players are unavailable, including back row pair Aaron Myers and Alex Barker, two key men return in fly half Gavin Painter and No 8 Sam Miller. Zac Southern reverts to full back.

Durham City are hoping for a fifth successive win at home to Percy Park, who might relish the short journey after struggling on lengthy trips to south Yorkshire.

Stockton are likely to be without skipper Steven Taylor for the rest of the season after he tore a bicep in last week's impressive toppling of Barnard Castle's 26-game unbeaten home record.

Former captain Phil Douglas will take over for the visit of another improving side, Gosforth, as Stockton attempt to avenge a 25-24 away defeat in early September.

Young winger Joe Hargreaves has injured an arm so evergreen Simon Crozier steps up and teenage scrum half Matty Crowe rejoins the squad, along with back row man Martin Dixon.