HOLDERS Darlington have postponed their Durham Cup semi-final at home to West Hartlepool because of the Queen Mother's funeral next Tuesday.

The match will now be played the following Tuesday, four days before the final against the winners of the Darlington Mowden Park v Westoe tie.

That match is still scheduled to go ahead next Tuesday, but Westoe have indicated their willingness to delay it and the county have given their approval.

Several Mowden players have rearranged their shifts in order to play next Tuesday, and they will not underestimate a Westoe side who went very close to toppling Blaydon at this stage last season.

This is the latest in a frustrating series of postponements for Darlington, who return to action at Aspatria tomorrow.

They were due to play the Cumbrians in successive weeks and were not impressed when Aspatria pulled out of the rearranged match at Blackwell Meadows last Saturday because of a Cumbria Cup semi-final against Kendal.

If Darlington reach the Durham Cup final on April 20 they will still have two league games to fit in, which means they will be encroaching on County Championship territory, with Durham due to play Yorkshire at Wharfedale on May 4.

The problem is even worse for Aspatria, who would be expected to provide several members of the Cumbria county side, as they still have six league matches to fit in.

One of those is the rearranged game at Middlesbrough on April 20, and such is the crazy nature of the fixture programme that Boro have had the last two weeks off. They resume at Chester tomorrow, when defeat will confirm their relegation if Bradford and Bingley win at Wigton.

Boro are at home to Sheffield next week then entertain Bridlington in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup on Wednesday, April 17.

Stockton have coach Alan Brown and his brother Wayne in the back row for tomorrow's visit of Wheatley Hills in North Two East.

Steve Thornton returns at centre and will be partnered by either Dave Cooke or Matt Reynolds.

* Teessider James Simpson-Daniel, who scored three tries as England won the final of the Hong Kong Sevens, is in the England Under 21 team to play Italy tomorrow. He has been playing on the wing for Gloucester, but is named at centre for the Under 21s. Newcastle hooker Matt Thompson, son of the club's owner Dave Thompson, is on the bench.

Newcastle's Tom May is in the England A team to play Italy at Naples tomorrow, with fellow Falcons centre Jamie Noon on the bench