Stockton closing in on Twickenham (From The Northern Echo)

Stockton closing in on Twickenham

8:00am Saturday 21st January 2012 in Rugby News By Scott Wilson

STOCKTON will move to within two matches of Twickenham if they see off Yorkshire side Ilkley in the Northern Intermediate Cup this afternoon.

Having qualified for the competition by winning their second-tier county tournament, Stockton cruised to a 31-3 win over Ashington in their opening fixture in November.

They entertain Ilkley at Station Road today, with the winners due to meet the victors of the North-West final. The winner of that game will then take on the champion side from the Midlands for a place in the final at Twickenham in May.

Stockton will be looking to improve on last weekend's display, when they suffered a rare league defeat at Gosforth.

Dan Muirhead and Mark Conway should return to bolster the pack, but Mark Gilchrist and Ritchie Brown are both unavailable because of injury.

Back in the league, Blaydon face a stiff task as they take on promotion-chasing Fylde in National One.

Director of rugby, Micky Ward, said: "We had a good home win over them back in September, but I have watched their recent videos and they are a much better side now.

"They have a quick back three, decent centres and they like to keep the ball alive, but they will underestimate us with where we are in the league table."

Tynedale are in the grip of an injury crisis as they prepare for a National One trip to Rosslyn Park.

Alan Rogers, Harry Mountain and Harry Peck are all unavailable, and chairman of rugby, John Shotton, said: "It has been an absolute nightmare.

"Over the Christmas break we had a lot of lads back to full fitness, but one game in and it looks like another load have dropped out.

"In total we have 11 injured players who would have been in the 20-man squad, nine of whom would likely have started if fit."

Westoe face Preston Grasshoppers in National Two North, but a shortened fixture list sees National Three North leaders Darlington Mowden Park without a game.

Mid-table West Hartlepool are in action though, away to Rossendale, and will start as rank outsiders given their opponents' three-and-a-half month unbeaten run at home.

Director of rugby, Kevan Oliphant, said: "Rossendale are not where they are in the league for no reason. They are second because they are a strong side.

"You could maybe say their away form is a little patchy after losing three times on their travels. But their results at home are very impressive."

West will name Tom Doxon at number eight, but Craig Gilmour and Stephen Stockdale are both missing through injury.

The game of the day in North One East sees table-toppers Billingham entertain Sheffield.

The game has been hastily rearranged after it was postponed last weekend because of a frozen pitch, and Billingham will be looking to end a recent blip that has seen them lose two of their last three matches.

That has cut their lead over second-placed Wheatley Hills to one point, and Billingham have named the same side that was due to start last weekend.

The other North One East games involving the region's clubs see Durham City entertain Malton and Norton, Gateshead travel to Cleckheaton and Northern take on Old Crossleyans.