A MIXTURE of sentiment and the desire to capture what they consider the North East “bragging rights” will see Blaydon hand four players their farewell appearances in today's home match against Darlington Mowden Park (2.30).

Two of them are wingers, Tom Jeffery and Sean Brown, so if Zach Kibirige does make a return to action it will be from the bench.

Jeffery and flanker Harry Bate are heading for London, while Brown and fly half Craig Willis have been released by Newcastle Falcons and hope to play Championship rugby. Willis, a Billingham product, is to join Doncaster.

Of the other Newcastle players who have appeared this season for Blaydon, centre Tom Penny faces a groin operation and lock Will Witty is in the Falcons' squad for the trip to Gloucester.

Although no names have been released, Blaydon have already signed replacements and expect to keep the rest of their squad.

Mowden also have several new players lined up and have announced that lock Rob Conquest and No 8 Ollie Hodgson have re-signed for next season.

But Conquest's promising partnership with Ben Gledhill will not be resumed as the ex-Rugby League man has left following his non-selection after his three-week ban for punching. He is to return to Sale FC.

After last week's heavy home defeat by Old Alabanians, Mowden have recalled Talite Vaioleti in the second row, despite playing only one full and two half games this season.

“He has been unlucky with injuries, but he has settled in the area and will be around next season,” said coach John Newton. “He's good with the kids and brings a lot of size to the team.

“We need to finish on a high. It was frustrating last week. We didn't need to say too much about it. It wasn't acceptable as a group and we need to put it right.

“There's no better way to finish than with a derby which offers the chance to be the top club in the region after the Falcons.”

England Under 18 player Joe Craggs will make his first start in place of Jack Allcock, who has a knee injury, and Darren Fearn, the prop on loan from Sale, replaces Ralph Appleby, who has concussion.

The return of hooker Charlie Maddison will also beef up an area where Mowden struggled last week, while two players returning from injury in the backs are fly half Grant Connon and utility back Jamie Barnard, who replaces Tom Kill.

There are two ex-Mowden men in Blaydon's pack in prop Robbie Kalbraier and No 8 Jason Smithson, while a third, hooker Matt Hall, can be expected to make a big impact from the bench.

Whether Kibirige takes a seat alongside him remains to be seen, but he is reported to be ready for action after his 13-month lay-off since breaking a leg on his Premiership debut. He may yet feature for the Falcons before their season ends.

Blaydon won 24-23 when the teams met at the Northern Echo Arena in the first match of the season, and although Mowden forged ahead after the turn of the year they are now only one point in front of their rivals.

The Northumberland selectors have been regular visitors to Crow Trees and Durham's will be there to watch the two clubs who are to host their two home matches in the County Championship after agreeing to stage double headers also involving the women's games.

Lancashire visit Blaydon on May 16 and Cheshire are at Mowden the following week. Durham's first game, on May 9, is away to Yorkshire.

Blaydon are also making today a big occasion with two games involving Newcastle School for Boys this morning ahead of the second team's final Candy League match of the season, also against Mowden.

The sides have already met four times, Mowden recording their first win in last week's league cup final, when fly half Joe Nellany converted eight of the nine tries in a 61-28 victory.

The fact that injuries and departures have left Mowden short of backs was reflected in a threequarter line made up of veterans Mike Wood, Chris Strong, Ben Snook and Vaioleti, who scored two tries on the wing.

Westoe will play their Durham Cup semi-final against Horden at Harton School today, with the winners meeting West Hartlepool in Wednesday's final.