Match Preview

It’s derby day on Saturday as Hartlepool Rovers visit Brinkburn to play West Hartlepool (kick off 3pm).

The Whites enjoyed an excellent pre-season culminating in a Durham Intermediate Cup win over Horden and Peterlee that was in contrast to a difficult time for West.

The Brinkburn side, however, have shown they intend to mount a promotion challenge from a tough Durham Northumberland One division with good wins over Novocastrians and South Shields Westoe.

At the same time, the Friaragemen have stalled on the road at Northern, losing 48-8, before a 32-10 win over Medicals at the New Friarage last week brought them a try-scoring bonus point victory.

The White Shirts’ camp has been lifted by the news that Callum Whitehead is fit to play and he lines up in the second row on place of Dylan Langley who has work commitments.

Rovers have an exciting-looking back line on display and a strong pack and will be hoping to get a result over a West team that will start as favourites.

Rovers: Foreman, Maguire, Barnfield, Gunn, Austwicke, Evens, Pelser, N Stead, T Stead, Pinchen, Whitehead (c), Little, Jeffery, Dring, Armstrong. Subs (from): O’Callaghan, Wood, Burnside, S Smith, D Smith