JONNY Wilkinson will be hoping that a large helping of the luck of the Irish falls his way before the European Challenge Cup semi-final.

Newcastle Falcons will face London Irish, and amazingly in such an injury-blighted season Wilkinson has already been involved against them twice.

It was against them that he last played on November 11, kicking five penalties in a 23-20 home defeat prior to his groin operation.

He was then on the bench against the same opponents but didn't take the field in a 9-6 away win on February 12, after which he tore an adductor muscle in training.

Newcastle have not written him off for the season, and there is a chance he could be fit by the time of the semi-final in three weeks.

Irish beat Bayonne 48-5 yesterday and with the semi-final to be screened on Sky Sports, the Falcons should hear today whether it is to be held on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

They are offering tickets at a 20 per cent discount from 9am tomorrow until April 12, and they can be ordered by ringing 0871 226 6060.

Newcastle are looking forward to the day when they can field a backline featuring Wilkinson, Toby Flood, Mathew Tait and Jamie Noon.

Flood revelled in the soggy conditions to score 18 of their points in Friday night's 23-3 win against Connacht, landing all five kicks at goal as well as scoring an individual try.

He said: "I have never really kicked in first team games before, but I did it for England Under 21s this season and fortunately it went well. We have a few good teachers at this club in that department."

One of those is Rob Andrew, who said: "Toby pretty much put the whole package together. We have known for some time that he is an outstanding talent and we have eased him in.

"This club has a fabulous record of bringing through young local players and he is just one of a number here at the moment. He has just signed a two-year deal and we look forward to him developing both at fly half and centre."

* Darlington Mowden Park failed in their efforts to secure Newcastle Academy player Mark Laycock and lost their National Three North match 22-12 at Hull Ionians on Saturday.

They wanted Laycock to play at fly half, but skipper Iain Dixon had to switch from full back and they were left without a backs replacement.

A downpour before the start made conditions difficult and Mowden weren't helped by centre Roddy Gouionnet breaking his nose after 15 minutes. He briefly went back on, but it proved too big a risk for a player who suffered a fractured skull earlier in the season.

Mowden had to send on flanker Tim Wilks for his first appearance for several seasons. In the reshuffle Andrew Tonkin went from the back row to the wing and finished off slick handling by the backs for the try which put Mowden 12-11 ahead after 45 minutes.

Wilks also scored after a good forwards move in the first half, Dixon converting from wide out, but a controversial try put Hull 11-7 ahead at the interval.

A touch judge indicated that a line-out throw-in had not gone five metres and two Mowden players stopped, but the referee allowed Hull to carry on and score in the corner courtesy of a king bounce.

They also scored a good try after 60 minutes and added four penalties, which made the difference.

Tynedale became only the third team in 22 games to prevent Bradford and Bingley winning in a 22-22 draw at Corbridge.

The hosts led 17-7 after playing downwind and a minute after the interval winger Hamish Smales broke out of his own 22 to score a spectacular try.

But the big Bradford pack took control and, after two tries and a conversion, a drop goal brought them level with 15 minutes left.

Tynedale did well to hold out and earn some reward for scoring all their points, other than a Phil Belgian penalty, in seven minutes either side of half-time, during which Belgian converted tries by himself and winger Cameron Johnston.

Middlesbrough's rearranged home match against West Park St Helens was again postponed because of a waterlogged pitch and will have to be slotted in on April 15.

Chester did them a favour by winning 26-8 at Longton, who remain next to the bottom of North One, a point behind Boro.

Westoe's home match against Morley was also off. It was the third postponement in the last month for the South Shields club, who still have four league games to fit in as well as their Durham Cup first round tie against Stockton.

The only match in North Two East was played in a quagmire at Sheffield, where Hartlepool Rovers lost 36-7 after drawing level through an opportunist try by Gareth Foreman, converted by Chris Sainty.

Consett won their Durham Intermediate Cup tie 15-13 at Gateshead and will face holders Durham City in the final, while Bishop Auckland reached the Junior Cup final courtesy of scoring more tries in a 13-13 draw at Seaton Carew.