BLAYDON have told Tynedale they are prepared to wait until lunchtime tomorrow for a verdict on whether their National One match at Corbridge can go ahead.

After being forced to postpone last week’s home game against Redruth at 11am on Friday, only to find it could have been played, Blaydon are grateful for a derby match, which is expected to attract a four-figure crowd.

Director of Rugby Tom Rock said: “This time we can be flexible right up to Saturday lunchtime and give Tynedale every opportunity to get their pitch passed playable.”

Rock believes his players are in top condition after their enforced three-week rest and are relishing the chance of a return to action.

“We have coped pretty well with the bad weather and tried to take the positives out of it, ignoring the inconvenience and frustration of not playing,” he said.

“We haven’t missed a single training session, and have managed to train outside on all but one occasion. The lads have had some tough sessions, sometimes in snow a foot deep.

“It was important that we carried the momentum of our recent run of form through this period. We now have the likes of Paul Vinnicombe, Shaun English, Chris Wearmouth and Matt Clark back at 100 per cent so that will give the squad a real boost. The lads are so desperate to play and put all the training into action.”

Westoe visit Hull Ionians and skipper Gareth Nesbit, in his seventh season at the helm, feels they can cope with any conditions underfoot.

He said: “It is not good enough to start off like a train on hard pitches only to become bogged down when the bad weather sets in. And I believe we have shown we can well handle ourselves whatever the state of the pitch.”

The last three of Westoe’s 12 victories from 13 games have been on sodden surfaces, culminating in last week’s 13-try spree at home to Manchester, which took them into second place.

Versatile back Graeme Haswell is back in action after surgery on damaged knee ligaments and Iain Dixon, who was injured at Leicester Lions in mid-October, will return soon.

Ionians were beaten 20-19 in Westoe’s first home game of the season but have recently sunk into the lower half of the National Two North table.

Middlesbrough hope to confirm this evening that their Three North match at home to Chester can go ahead.

Coach Paul Lee continues to select himself at fly half, with Simon O’Farrell at centre.

Ben Horton will start at hooker, with his cousin Richard on the bench.

West Hartlepool, who entertain Durham City, have secured full planning permission to build a function suite, which will seat 200 and be known as the West Wing, at their Brinkburn ground.

It is expected to be a major source of income generation to help with further development of the clubhouse. The board have arranged funding for £100,000 and the aim is to raise the same again.

In D and N One sixth-placed Stockton host fourth-placed Horden, who will be looking for revenge after Stockton won 17- 6 at Welfare Park in mid September. Skipper Mark Skirving suffered a broken arm in that game, which has still not healed.

Andy Bare is working but Tom Jeffery has recovered from his shoulder injury and will start at full back. Winger Simon Crozier is still struggling with an achilles problem, so Stockton bring versatile Luke Tinkler, a former Newton Aycliffe threequarter, into the squad.

Horden’s 27-20 home win against Medicals last Saturday is the only game played in this division for the last three weeks.