Uncertain futures for many Falcons players

3:02am Saturday 29th March 2008

AS Newcastle Falcons prepare to make cutbacks over the summer, among those under threat will be Adam Dehaty and Eni Gesinde, who are unavailable for Blaydon today.

They are in the Newcastle Development XV squad for Monday night's match against Northampton at Druid Park, leaving Blaydon's already depleted line-up even more threadbare for the visit of Waterloo.

Out of the 63 players they have registered, only 28 are currently available and one of those, scrum half Nick Williams, will make his final appearance for the club today before taking up a physio's job in Taunton.

It's just as well for Blaydon that their excellent form in February and early March has secured their position in National Two as their current plight is such that back row man Duncan Brown is selected at centre.

Director of rugby Nick Gandy is unlikely to play again this season, so Richard Windle continues at fly half and with Dan Kyle joining his brother James among the casualties Simon Barber makes his first appearance of the season on the wing.

The absence of Gesinde and Selwyn St Bernard, who has a broken leg, sees Andy Wright and Patricio Desmond join Jason Smithson in the back row.

Darlington Mowden Park could virtually clinch second place in National Three North if they win at Macclesfield and their two rivals both lose away. Fylde are at Hull Ionians, while Leicester Lions visit Preston Grasshoppers.

Mowden are without prop Robbie Kalbraier, who has a neck problem, so Danny Brown will start in an otherwise unchanged pack, with Adam Howarth providing cover on the bench. Hooker Sean Buckley is also named among the replacements but there are still doubts about his fitness.

Injured wingers Gareth Kerr and Chris Clarke have been replaced by Iain Dixon and Charlie Rayner, with Ben Snook at full back and Lawrence Oliver on the bench.

Darlington have had to make four changes for their crucial North One survival clash at Penrith, two of them in the back row.

Byron Kramer has not recovered from the back injury he suffered against Blaydon last week and James Knox has sliced a ligament in his thumb at work and will miss the rest of the season.

They are replaced by Richard Parker and Steve Taylor, with former Middlesbrough duo Dave Hinchley and Chris Palesci teaming up at lock.

In the backs David Andrew is recalled at fly half as Charlie Catterall is unavailable and David Glendenning also adds further experience at inside centre, with Lee Richardson reverting to the wing.

Penrith will be relegated if they lose but, like Darlington, they have been fighting hard to stay up recently and lost only 12-7 away to unbeaten leaders Kendal.

Darlington coach Kevin Robinson will stress the need for discipline, especially as the referee is the one who removed the captaincy from Lee Richardson in the game at Middlesbrough.

The team is much changed from that which was soundly beaten in the first league game at home to Penrith, and Robinson is grateful to second and third team coaches Andrew Rents and Chris Dargue for their work in bringing players through.

Middlesbrough skipper David Richardson has not recovered from his groin injury, so the backs are unchanged at Cleckheaton.

Gareth Lodge returns for unavailable lock Chris Webb, while hooker Ben Horton and flanker Matt Wright start ahead of Richard Horton and Martin Howe, who are on the bench after injury.

Leaders West Hartlepool are at full strength for the potential North Two East title decider at Durham City, who are level on points with their visitors but trail by 60 on points difference.

In the remaining games on April 12 and 19 West visit Gateshead then entertain Hartlepool Rovers, while City are at home to Pontefract and away to Aspatria.

Durham School product Will Dias will be at full back for City as James Walker is unavailable, while Mark Cammiss returns at loose head and Darren McKinnon at open side.

McKinnon will be up against one of his former Mowden Park colleagues in Jon Boatman, who has his brother Dan and Paul Rudd alongside him in West's back row.

Newcastle Falcons visit Harlequins today aiming to repeat the success of their last trip to London, a December victory against Saracens.

Things haven't gone well since then and acting boss Steve Bates said: "There has been a change of tactics which the players are getting used to, but they are very capable and are adapting gradually.

"The key is turning pressure into points when we do have spells where we dominate, but the attitude in training has been outstanding and we're expecting a big performance this weekend.

"We are in a professional environment and this is a results-driven business. Our job is to win rugby matches, and we understand the consequences if we don't do that."

With England centre Jamie Noon among those ruled out, Bates said of the injury situation: "Jamie was very close for this game after taking a blow to his shin/ankle area early on at Leeds, and should be OK for next week.

"Russell Winter was another for whom this game just came a couple of days too early, having also suffered an ankle injury."

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