LOCAL lad Andrew Archibald will have a big following when he turns out for England Students against Irish Colleges at Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park tonight (7.30).

The 6ft 6in lock began his rugby in Blaydon’s Under 7s and has become a regular in the first team this season, while also appearing for the Falcons Development XV.

Archibald’s father, John, a Blaydon stalwart, said: “There will be a big family contingent there, including my 80-year-old mum, Betty.

Two busloads are going from the club. My wife, Sheila, has spent three hours making a banner saying: ‘Archie rocks, local hero’.

“She and her sister are season ticket holders at St James’ Park and when Andrew was born 20 years ago they immediately got him registered as Newcastle’s youngest supporter. He’s still black and white daft, but he loves his rugby.”

The second year student will be joined in the team by fellow Northumbria University player Mark Wilson, and if they come through unscathed both will also be in the Blaydon squad for Sunday’s match at home to Tynedale.

Archibald senior said: “That should be a cracking game and Andrew is very keen to play. He scored a try when we won at Corbridge in October.”

Tynedale centre Jack Harrison is one of only two survivors from last year’s game in Ireland in the England Counties XV to play an Ireland Clubs XV at Stourbridge tonight (7.30).

He is joined in the team by clubmates Jonny Williams and Joe Graham, while Blaydon skipper Matt Hall will provide cover for hooker Graham on the bench.

Westoe prop Peter Tennet, who began in the under 12s, will make his 100th first team appearance in tomorrow’s National Two match at home to Huddersfield.

It was at Huddersfield that Tennet scored the late match-winning try in the North Two East title decider five years ago. He briefly switched to Otley last season after landing a job in Leeds, but now travels up from West Yorkshire to train and play.

Westoe, who are eighth, recently halted a run of five defeats and will expect another win against opponents who are five places below them.

Third-placed Stockton hope to step up their push for promotion from Durham and Northumberland One when they host mid-table Alnwick in a game which was originally due to take place in early January.

Two key forwards, lock Phil Austen and prop Simon Brown, are unavailable.

Austen is replaced by his brother, Jon, and the experienced Dan Muirhead comes in for Brown.

Bishop Auckland stage the County Under 20 Championship match between Durham and Northumberland on Sunday (2pm). The Durham team includes a trio of Middlesbrough players with first team experience in centre Michael Thornburn, prop Mohammed Mustafa and flanker Carl Kirwan.

Durham: Greg Littlewood (Sunderland University), Shaun McCartney (Darlington Mowden Park), Martyn Heelbeck (Gateshead), Michael Thornburn (Middlesbrough), Aaron Gibson (Billingham), David Harding (Durham University), Sam Boughton (Durham University), Andrew Rollins (Horden), Jack Bengochea (Sunderland), Mohammed Mustafa (Liverpool University), Thomas Baty (Durham City), Anthony Rumis (Billingham), Oliver Mabbott (Liverpool John Moores University), Carl Kirwan (Middlesbrough), David Sheldon (Blaydon).