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NEWCASTLE Falcons have handed the captaincy to former Scotland back row man Ross Beattie for the final game of the season at Worcester today.

The Tait brothers, Mathew (hip) and Alex (head), await late fitness tests, while scrum half Lee Dickson and flanker Ben Woods both make their final appearances before moving on.

On the bench there is a return for All Black prop Joe McDonnell after an arm injury, while England Students No 8 Peter Browne will be looking to make his second appearance for the club after his debut on Wednesday against London Wasps.

Hooker Ross Batty, who has appeared with Browne for Darlington Mowden Park, also went on from the bench against Wasps.

Caretaker boss Steve Bates said: gThis will make it three games in seven days, and therefs no denying that the boys are extremely tired.

gWefve cut right back on the workload this week in training, but the effort from those who will end up playing two or even all of these three games has been absolutely heroic.

gOne or two people have the chance to stake their claim for next season. We fielded a largely young side against Wasps on Wednesday, and they were very competitive for the first hour before a couple of controversial decisions saw Wasps get in front.

gIfm keen to see Ross Beattie again after he did a lot of very promising things against Leicester on Sunday.h gWhat we are looking for from this game is to have a real go at Worcester, trying to develop our playing style with a view to next season.

Newcastle Falcons: Alex Tait, Ollie Phillips, Mathew Tait, Tim Visser, John Rudd, Steve Jones, Lee Dickson, Jon Golding, Rob Vickers, David Wilson, Andy Perry, Mark Sorenson, Ben Woods, Ed Williamson, Ross Beattie (captain) Newcastle Falcons back Steve Jones has been named in the Scotland eAf squad for this summerfs Churchill Cup in North America.

Jones has played fly half, centre and full back for the Falcons this season since rejoining the club from Border Reivers.

The Churchill Cup sees the Scots face Canada in Ottawa on June 7, and Argentina in Kingston on June 11, before the finals day in Chicago on June 21.

Three Falcons players, all Barnard Castle School pupils, have been named in the England Under-18s squad for their summer tour to Argentina. They are No 8 Alex Gray, fly half Rory Clegg and full back Tom Catterick.

Durham will field two pairs of brothers in the County Championship Shield match against Northumberland at Alnwick today.

Darlington Mowden Park pair Iain Dixon and Andy Foreman are joined in the side by siblings who briefy played for Mowden before returning to Hartlepool clubs. Gareth Foreman is on the wing and Andy Dixon will be at hooker.

After last weekendfs defeat at North Midlands, Durham make seven changes, knowing that if they lose again their final group game against Cumbria at Darlington next week is likely to be a relegation decider.

Mowdenfs Aaron Myers and Westoefs Graham Smith come into the back-row, while Northumberland have called up Mowdenfs utility back Charlie Rayner. He will be partnered at centre by Ben Duncan, one of nine Tynedale players in the side, while Blaydonfs Andrew Fenby comes in on the wing.

In the championship proper Yorkshire are considering switching Wharfedalefs former Middlesbrough player Andy Baggett from centre to fly half as Richard Wainwright is unavailable for the match against Warwickshire at Nuneaton. Otleyfs former West Hartlepool back row man Dan Hyde could come into the frame after being unavailable last weekend.

Durham: Simon Moore (Middlesbrough); Gareth Foreman (Hartlepool Rovers), Iain Dixon (Darlington Mowden Park), David Astle (Durham University & Leicestershire), Matthew Horrocks (Durham University & Tynedale); Matthew Gupta (Durham University & London Irish), Andrew Foreman (Darlington Mowden Park); Gareth Nesbit (Westoe, captain), Andy Dixon (West Hartlepool), Dan Oselton (Moseley), Paul Bird (Westoe), Richard Boyle (Durham University & Harrogate), Alex Waddingham (Durham University & Sale), Aaron Myers (Darlington Mowden Park), Graeme Smith (Westoe).

Replacements: David Tate (Gateshead), Lee Richardson (Darlington), Paul Shepherd (Billingham), John Nichols (Durham City), Keiron McKeown (Gateshead), Joe Thomas (Durham University), Phil Eggleshaw (Durham University & Nottingham).

9:20am Saturday 10th May 2008

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