Darlington Mowden Park have received confirmation from the RFU that they are to have two points deducted from their National Division Three North total.

They have been told that they did not carry out the full registration requirements before including Durham University centre Oliver Phillips in their team against Nuneaton two weeks ago.

Although Mowden felt they had completed all the necessary paperwork two weeks previously, the RFU claim to have told them they needed to inform Hove, with whom Phillips was already registered.

"The RFU say they sent us a letter, but we didn't receive it," said Mowden's team secretary Jim Dyson. "I have spoken to Ollie Phillips since this came out and he says he is not even a member of Hove.

"We are not happy about it, but all the talk in the world will not get us the two points back, and it's not worth the £100 it will cost us to appeal."

As fifth-placed Mowden are five points ahead of sixth-placed Blaydon with three games left, including West Hartlepool away next week, the loss of two points is unlikely to drop them down the table.

Mowden have no students in their line-up for today's Durham Cup tie at Blaydon, with Chris Strong coming in at centre for the unavailable Mark Wilkinson, while Richard Woollam returns at scrum half.

After initially losing his place through injury, Woollam has been struggling to oust Richard Holborough, but the Teesside University student will be out for two weeks with the mouth injury he suffered at Sandal.

Richard Mangles is working, so Steve Sanderson returns at lock, with Del Russell on the bench.

Prop Ian Keeligan, who strained a hamstring before last week's game, is again on the bench, along with Matt Hall and former Darlington centre Kieron Thompson. Mowden are keen to take a look at Thompson, who can also play at fly half, before the end of the season and he could feature against West next week.

They are confident of overturning their 29-23 league defeat at Blaydon three weeks ago to earn a semi-final at home to Westoe.

That would present the likelihood of a repeat of the all-Darlington final of two years ago, to be staged on April 20 just before Mowden end their season with a two-match tour to Ireland.

Blaydon are without fly half James Lofthouse today as he is in Hong Kong with the English Universities ten-a-side team.

Nick Gandy is back in the squad and is likely to deputise, although another option is to play Jonny Golightly at No 10 against his former club.

Darlington have been hit by injury and unavailability for their rearranged North Division One match at Bradford and Bingley.

Young lock Tom Wilkinson makes his first senior start in place of Ian Todd, and Durham Under-20s fly half Ian Dobson comes in for Paul Lee, who has a leg injury. Skipper David Glendenning is working, so Mark Butler deputises at full back, and if goal-kicking proves a problem they have Marc Potts on the bench. He is joined there by Dan Miller, with Joe Osleton keeping his place at prop.

West Hartlepool's bottom v top match at home to National Three North leaders Doncaster has been put back 24 hours until 3pm tomorrow.

As this was originally a vacant date, several West players had accepted invitations to a wedding before the Doncaster match was rearranged.

The need to fit in this game has also interfered with West's Durham Cup tie at Consett, which will now be played on Tuesday, April 2.

The Durham Intermediate Cup semi-finals take place today, with Ryton at home to Horden and Billingham entertaining West Hartlepool TDSOB.