THE disappointment of failing to qualify for a second successive crack at Europe's top competition will be forgotten when Newcastle Falcons take the field at Grenoble tonight.

There will be no time for dwelling on the past because the pool format has gone from the second tier event and it becomes a straight knockout.

There are two legs - Newcastle are at home to Grenoble next Sunday - but the only consolation for defeat is a place in the Parker Pen Shield as opposed to the Parker Pen Challenge Cup.

The Falcons missed a place in the Heineken European Cup only because of the farcical situation which allowed Bristol, who finished below them in the Premiership, to qualify by reaching the final of last season's Zurich play-offs.

While Bristol, currently bottom of the Premiership, have no chance of making an impact in Europe, the Falcons can at least entertain dreams of silverware.

But it will be no stroll as Grenoble have already claimed a couple of notable scalps in the French Championship and if they beat them the Falcons will be up against Castres in the second round.

Newcastle were linked with a move for former All Blacks flanker Josh Kronfeld this week, with Leicester believed to be willing to let him go out on loan.

Wasps were also interested, but Leicester decided to hang on to a player who has surprisingly been unable to command a regular place.

Newcastle's back row can look a little lightweight without Epi Taione, but he has travelled with the squad to France and has almost recovered from his knee injury.

He is rated 50-50 for tonight, as is prop Ian Peel, who has a back injury, but Michael Stephenson should return on the wing in place of Joe Shaw, who has an ankle problem.

Steve Jones, who played for Middlesbrough last season, suffered a knee injury when he made his debut on the wing at Harlequins last week, and another Teessider, Shaun Richardson, is added to the squad.

The new Borders team face a Parker Pen match in Madrid today without former Falcons scrum half Gary Armstrong, who was stretchered off in last Friday's win against Glasgow and will be out for two months.

Darlington Mowden Park entertain relegated Waterloo in National Division Three North and expect a tough game after the visitors won at Tynedale in the Powergen Cup last week.

Mowden have switched Mark Bedworth from full back to fly half following the knee injury which will keep out Jonny Golightly for several weeks.

With Jon Wrigley also sidelined by neck and shoulder trouble, Mowden are looking stretched at half back and have Andy Dean on the bench as cover.

He is joined by Vahanoa Faleovalu, who has recovered from injury, while his Tongan teammate Kelekolia Paino stays at No 8 as Aaron Redaelli is still struggling with a rib problem.

Jonny Boatman, who impressed at open side last week, has flu so Billy McKinnon will start and Jon Dye continues at blind side.

Iain Dixon is at full back and another recruit from Blaydon, former Cheshire winger James Tyrrell, will be fit to return against his former club in two weeks.

Mowden have no game next week as Nuneaton, the league leaders, are still in the Powergen Cup.

Darlington are without both player-coaches plus winger Paul Beattie for the visit of promoted Cleckheaton in North Division One.

Phil Lancaster (back) and Craig Lee (foot) both had to leave the field at Driffield last week, but Lancaster's absence should not be too crucial as Dan Miller is available to join the Osleton brothers in the front row. Miller has been playing for Bath Under 21s recently.

Dave Haswell deputises for Lee at centre and Phil Heslop takes over on the wing from Beattie, who has a back problem.

Kieron Thompson is at full back and it is hoped he can continue the successful goal-kicking which helped to win last week's match.

There is an interesting clash at Bullocksteads today where Gosforth host Northern in Durham and Northumberland Division One.

When Gosforth had to restart in division four six years ago the clubs were six divisions apart, but now they meet again in a well-timed reunion which celebrates 125 years of matches between the clubs. A lunch is being held to mark the occasion.