York RUFC visit high-flying Darlington in a rearranged North Two East fixture with a new stand off in Australian Dirk Mulder.

Although he has only joined the club this week he has impressed coach Andy Gair enough for him to come straight into the team.

Mulder is from Sydney where he learnt his rugby. He has played club rugby in London and recently he has been playing and coaching at Montauk Rugby Club in Long Island, New York.

He replaces Craig Ventress who moves to full back in place of Tom Copeland, whose run of injuries over the last two years continued at Bridlington last week where he strained a thigh muscle.

In the pack, Ian Davies comes in at Number 8 after an impressive performance at Bridlington when he came on as substitute.

Mike Bewell is selected at open-side wing forward for his first start of the season. Simon Humphries takes the place of Aidie Martin who injured his leg at Bridlington.

After this week's torrential rain, several club officials were making final checks today to assess what the prospects of play are likely to be tomorrow.

With most of their promotion rivals having a day off, Harrogate have a chance of making up lost ground in National League division two after two league defeats in succession - both away and by a total of just three points.

They are at home to West Hartlepool in a game put back a fortnight when the struggling North East club encountered a shortage of fit and able front row players.

With the visitors having yet to register as much as a draw and firmly anchored at the bottom of the National League Division Two, Harrogate will be looking to boost their points difference column - something which could come into play by April if the current jockeying for promotion continues.

Harrogate are still without skipper Rhys Morgan, who is with the British Police rugby league squad, so Owen Drane gets another chance at scrum-half and there is a place for brother Gareth on the bench.

The only doubt concerns flanker Steve Hobson who missed the Camberley game with an eye injury and faces a late check.

If he is fit he plays against his old club, if not, stand-in captain Peter Taylor will move from the second row with Jim Houghton filling in.

"Hopefully Steve will be fit in which case Houghton will be on the bench. If he plays from the start Tom Anderson will get the replacements spot," said coach Ralph Zoing.

The league programme largely takes a break tomorrow with several York-area clubs in the third rounds of the Intermediate Cup and Tetley's Vase.

Selby, already out of the Tetley's Bitter Cup, have decided not to fill this week's gap on their fixture list, while Pocklington are hoping that they might pick up an away game against a more senior club or a home friendly fixture against a junior outfit.

In the junior ranked Vase competition Malton and Norton and York RI both have ground advantage against Old Rishworthians and Stocksbridge, respectively.

Both clubs are at the top of their respective leagues, although the more senior ranked Malton and Norton do not expect the Copley-based club to be a pushover.

Former Whitby prop Tom Eddy makes a welcome return to Malton's squad after completing a degree course. Steve Riddolls switches to the bench.

Tim Casey has also recovered from an ankle injury and Mick Corner stands down for Richard Webster who has also recovered from an ankle injury.

Despite much of Malton and Norton being flooded, the first team pitch was today still playable.

RI make just one change to their squad with Joe Nassan replacing the unavailable Chris Hudson.

Goole's own pitches are unplayable, but they make several changes for their trip to Wheatley Hills in the Intermediate Cup with 19-year-old prop, Mark Fallon, deputising for Martin Milburn who has suffered severe bruising to his chest.

Richard Ruhmann, who was thought to have broken his leg two weeks ago, actually tore his Achilles tendon, ruptured a calf muscle and suffered knee ligament damage and is expected to be out of playing for the rest of the season.

Ripon make several changes for the visit of Redcar in the Intermediate Cup with Ashley Thomas promoted for Craig Wollans. Adam Ferris, who was working last week, takes the place of Jeff Platt.

Fred Oakes, who was at a wedding last week, takes the place of Kevin Guy who is suffering from concussion and Ben Taylor is preferred on the wing to Mark Pickles.

Scarborough catch up on a Yorkshire Two league game against Roundhegians that was postponed on September 16 because of the fuel crisis.

Nestl Rowntree have their fingers crossed that the recent floodwater will have subsided to permit them to travel to Selby to take on their fourth team for a 'social' game.

The Rowntrees side includes two soldiers from Imphal Barracks, Richard Jarnszek and Simon Fitzgerald, who made their debuts at lock and centre respectively last week.