PETER Kilburn helped Northumbria University reach Twickenham on Wednesday, but he will not be able to do the same for Blaydon tomorrow.

After playing for Blaydon last week following his recent signing, the centre is ruled out of the Intermediate Cup semi-final at home to Richmond by an injury which required 11 stitches.

He suffered the blow during Northumbria's 20-11 win in a bruising BUSA semi-final against Durham University at Kingston Park, in which James Lofthouse scored 15 points from a try, two penalties and two conversions.

Jake Hirst, who replaced Kilburn after 45 minutes, is also a Blaydon player and returns to the squad following his recent return from a trip to South Africa.

If Hirst plays, goal-kicker Iain Dixon will switch to the wing, but much depends on whether experienced winger Graeme Spearman passes a fitness test.

With John Goose ineligible and Tim Russell being advised not to play because of a leg injury, Blaydon have a problem in the back row and could draft in local lad Gavin Stainsby at open side.

Richmond had a season out last year following their demise as a professional club, but have lost only once this season and are top of Hertfordshire and Middlesex Division One.

Blaydon are aiming to become the first North-East club to reach the Intermediate final at Twickenham following narrow misses by Middlesbrough and Darlington.

They were due to play Wigton in North One tomorrow and the big worry now is that Wigton will not play again this season because foot-and-mouth is rife in their area.

Blaydon have rearranged matches at Chester on April 28 and Sheffield on May 5, and they have requested a midweek date at Darlington Mowden Park.

Blaydon are at home to Westoe next Saturday in the semi-final of the Durham Cup and hope to take the next step en route to a county cup treble tomorrow when they face Gateshead at Ryton in the third teams final.

The seconds won their cup last week when they beat Westoe 28-21.

Stockton will visit Macclesfield tomorrow with the side selected for the postponed match against Wigton if prop Mark Gilchrist has recovered from an ankle injury.

Another prop, Wayne Roxby, is fit after a calf injury and will be on the bench, along with Steve Thornton, who has been out for most of the season with a knee problem.

Middlesbrough visit bottom club Northern with player-coach John Dixon in the starting line-up, along with prop Chris Horton.

Both went on in the last 20 minutes of last week's draw at home to Chester and now exchange roles with Jason Malcolm and Dale Sawdon. Jon Wrigley drops to the bench to give John Newton a game at scrum half.

l Uncapped Newcastle Falcons flanker Andrew Mower has been added to the Scotland squad for tomorrow's Six Nations clash against Italy at Murrayfield to provide precautionary cover for Budge Pountney.

Pountney is suffering from 'wear and tear' and coach Ian McGeechan may opt to rest him.

Mower, an Australian, also qualified for Wales and England through his grandparents, but opted for Scotland.

His call-up means that Edinburgh Reivers' Graham Dall will now start at open side flanker for the A team tonight with Donnie Macfadyen brought onto the bench