AFTER a mixed start to the season, Darlington Mowden Park return to the Arena tomorrow afternoon to take on Cinderford.

Garry Law’s side have won their last two games at home, and will be hoping to continue that trend against a strong Cinderford side.

Last weekend saw Mowden take a brace of losing bonus points from their trip to Sale in Round 11 of the National One programme.

The North-East side had led 24-7 at one stage, before the hosts’ pack ran in six tries to take a narrow comeback win.

It was a clash of styles as Mowden’s attacking model of play saw their backs run in a series of expansive tries, while all six of Sale’s tries came from 5m line-outs.

Mowden can expect a similar test in the pack this weekend, with Cinderford hooker Nathan Taylor scoring all four of their tries last weekend in a narrow victory against Bishop’s Stortford.

Cinderford come into tomorrow's game in fifth place in the National One table, courtesy of seven wins, two draws and two defeats so far.

The Gloucestershire side are yet to taste defeat at home, with their two losses coming on the road at high-flying Rosslyn Park and Cambridge.

November had seen back-to-back draws for Cinderford, before last weekend’s 24-22 win at Dockham Road.

Since Cinderford's promotion to National One in 2018, the two sides have met on six occasions, with Cinderford winning four of the games and Mowden claiming victory in the other two. Their last meeting at the Arena came back in December 2021, with Mowden running out 26-7 winners in their final game before the Christmas break last season.

Mowden’s starting line-up includes two changes from the side that travelled to the North West last weekend.

Both of those changes come in the backs, where there are welcome returns for Morgan Passman and Liam Checksfield.

Ollie Fletcher makes his first home start for the club at hooker, while Alfie Barron makes his 99th Mowden appearance alongside him at loose-head prop.


Darlington Mowden Park: Walker, Hadfield, Checksfield, Frankland, Passman, Minogue, Passman; Barron, Fletcher, Crickmay, Fisher, Craggs, Fantini, Jones, Hodgson.

Replacements: Fraine, Kyle-Clay, Davies, Tiffen, Ledingham.