GARETH Maclure is to be given the chance to show his paces at centre tonight as Newcastle Falcons rest their first-choice midfield for the final Heineken European Cup game at Newport.

While Liam Botham returns on the wing after his ankle injury, Maclure teams up with Inga Tuigamala at centre and David Walder will be at fly half.

Newcastle decided not to play Epi Taione, irrespective of the outcome of yesterday's hearing into his dismissal at Gloucester two weeks ago.

Maclure, 22, who grew up in Durham, played a few games at centre for West Hartlepool as a teenager before switching to Kingston Park, where his pace has seen him used more as a winger.

Drawn in possibly the toughest group, the Falcons never had a realistic chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals once they had lost their opening match at home to Newport.

They fielded a strong side in Tuesday's rearranged match at Headingley in an effort to spoil Leinster's unbeaten record, but there is only pride at stake tonight.

It's still a big chance for the likes of Maclure and full back David Richardson to taste European combat, and Rob Andrew will be grateful for that, despite the club suffering heavy financial losses on their first venture into the Heineken event.

It is estimated that having to switch the Leinster match to Leeds cost them about £60,000 in lost revenue.

Newcastle have released hooker Mike Howe, who has barely featured this season and is heading home to New Zealand.

Signed from London Irish two years ago, he was in pole position to take over when Ross Nesdale retired at the end of last season, but has been overtaken by Nick Makin and Billy Balshen.

The Falcons were watched at Headingley on Tuesday by England coach Clive Woodward, who was chiefly interested in scrum half Hall Charlton.

With Matt Dawson out of the England squad through injury, and Austin Healey facing a ban, Woodward was looking at his options as back-up for Kyran Bracken.

Charlton, 22, was invited to join the England squad for training earlier in the season and his progress is being carefully monitored.

Two other promising half backs, Steve Jones and Rob Green, are not available for Middlesbrough's North One match at home to Driffield tomorrow.

Jones went on for the last ten minutes of England Under 19s' 33-18 defeat by New Zealand at Bournemouth last Saturday, while Green recently played for Scotland Under 19s.

Jonathan Wrigley hopes to shake off an illness to play at scrum half for Boro, while Paul Gaynon keeps his place at tight head in a full-strength pack.

The frustrations surrounding Ben Roach, a centre from Rhyl, continue. After initial problems in securing his international clearance because the forms went missing after being sent from Cardiff to Twickenham, he has suffered a series of injuries - the latest to his shoulder - so Mark Thompson continues alongside Tom Lauriston.

Also looking to avenge a narrow away defeat in North One are Darlington, who entertain Chester, who have the same record of 12 points from ten games.

In North Two East, third-placed Redcar hope to complete a double at home to Stockton after winning 12-10 at Station Road in November.

Stockton have veteran Dave Cooke at centre in place of Graham Kell, who is working away.

Blaydon will be without skipper Dave Guthrie, who is working, for the tough match at Doncaster, who lie second in National Three North.

The captaincy will go to either lock Jason Oakes or fly half James Lofthouse, with James Houghton coming into the second row for Guthrie.