For the first two of the Lions recent seasons in National 3, 2004/05 and 2006/07, there were two Darlingtons to be played, but with the relegation of the older town club at the end of last season things have now become less confusing. It does help when a club is identifiable as being attached to a well-known place. Darlington MP’s more illustrious neighbours, farther up the Great North road, Newcastle Falcons, used to be just plain Gosforth until it became Newcastle Gosforth and then, with the creation of the professional Premier League the name Gosforth disappeared to be replaced by Falcons.

Our two clubs played each other for the first time in 2004 and this coming Saturday’s encounter will be the fifth. Of the four already played, Rugby have won both games played at Webb Ellis Road, but they have lost one and drawn one at Yiewsley Drive. Last season’s game at Webb Ellis Road, the season’s opener was won by 36-0, but the other three games have been much more closely contested, culminating in last season’s 24-24 drawn ‘endgame’.

This season Rugby and Darlington MP are closely matched in the league table. Though Rugby is fifth and Darlington MP is eighth their points totals differ by only two. Rugby has one more win but Darlington MP has two more bonus points. They have won twice away from home, once at Harrogate and more recently a one point win margin at West Park. With the ebb and flow of team performance this season this weekend’s result is less predictable than it ought to be, but if the: Lions really have turned the corner, and provided that they do not become complacent, then they should consolidate their league position this weekend.