Mowden set to blood Errington and McCarthy (From The Northern Echo)

Mowden set to blood Errington and McCarthy

9:46am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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Darlington Mowden Park are to hand senior debuts to their two England Colleges players, Sam Errington and Shaun McCarthy, in today’s match at Morley.

Errington, who has come up through the club’s junior sides, takes over at fly half and McCarthy, who began the season with Darlington, replaces Ben Seru on the wing.

It will be a tough baptism against the team vying for the National Three North title with Stockport. When Morley won a gripping contest at Mowden in November, their experienced fly half Mark Chester ran the game.

But Mowden coach Peter Taylor said: “I’m not looking for Sam to learn anything from his opposite number. He has to be his own man.

“He’s an exciting prospect and I want him to play with freedom and enjoy himself.

He has waited all year for his chance and you never know how a player will react until he is given his opportunity.”

With five games left, Taylor has kept his promise to look to the future after last week’s disappointing defeat by Middlesbrough.

He stands down, with Dan Squire reverting to the second row to allow Tom Wilkinson a game at No 8.

Tynedale have joined Blaydon in opting to play tomorrow because three of their players were in the England Counties team which played France Amateurs last night.

There will be a 2.30 kick-off at Corbridge against Otley, while Blaydon have agreed to a 3pm start at Wharfedale.

England U20s and Newcastle Falcons fly half Rob Miller, top scorer for Tynedale last season, has agreed to play after spending most of the season on the bench at Kingston Park.

Jonny Williams, Joe Graham and Hamish Smales are expected back from Lille today and will be in the Tynedale squad tomorrow.

Otley occupy one of the relegation spots but last week they pulled off a shock 35-34 win over second-placed London Scottish.

They drew 23-23 at home to Tynedale in September but have lost 11 of their 12 away games, the solitary victory coming at bottom club Manchester.

Blaydon hope lock Andrew Archibald will have come through last night’s England Students game against France unscathed as he is named in the starting line-up at Wharfedale, with Naude Pretorius unavailable.

His England Students colleague Mark Wilson will again be at No 8, although Jason Smithson will be ready to return soon as he continues to build his match fitness in the second team.

Goal-kicking winger Adam Armstrong has a leg injury, so Paddy Dias returns.

Harrogate, who entertain Westoe in National Two North today, have called meetings in their clubhouse on Tuesday and Wednesday to give members full details of the position regarding their ground.

They have been served notice to quit the Claro Road site by the developers, Crest Nicholson, but are trying to negotiate a licence agreement to continue playing at the ground for a limited period.

There has been talk of moving in the with the football club.

The clash of the bottom two clubs in National Three North sees West Hartlepool entertain West Park St Helens with escape looking extremely unlikely for either, despite recent improved form. Stuart Waites stays at scrum half for the hosts and Paul Rudd returns to the back row as Dan Boatman is unavailable.

North One East leaders Billingham visit Pontefract, while Darlington recall two of last week’s four absent forwards for the trip to Old Crossleyans. Steve Taylor returns at lock and Andy Hodgkins at No 8, but Joe Hargreaves has to settle for the bench as Michael Tucker retains his place at prop.

Richard Parker reverts to the back row and coach Lee Richardson switches to full back as Mark Baldwin is unavailable.

Hartlepool Rovers hope to stop the rot which has produced a draw and four defeats in the last five games.

Coach Alan Brown returns to the back row for the visit of Gateshead, who haven’t won since December.

■ The fixture backlog continues to cause problems for the Durham Cup organisers.

They had pencilled in May 1 for the final, but Blaydon and Westoe both have league games on that date.

Blaydon are to play Manchester, who decided against travelling for the rearranged fixture on Easter Monday, when Blaydon will now play their Durham Cup tie at West Hartlepool instead.

The winners will face a semi-final against Mowden Park or Gateshead, with that game pencilled in for April 17 as Mowden doubt they could get all their players to the ground early enough for a midweek match.

The other second round ties still to be played are Stockton v Westoe and Billingham v Durham City.