Match Preview

Shields 1xv open the 2024 campaign against a struggling Whitby at home. In September Whitby battered us in an appalling game (A contender with Barnard Castle for the worst performance of the season) 39-0. Hopefully a win on Saturday will ease the trauma of that day. Last season Whitby did the double over us, beating us by a score at home. On a good day we can compete with the top teams in this league, on a bad day we’d get beaten by some teams in DN3.The result as always depends on lads being available. Pick up 5 points we’re heading towards safety, lose it and we’re dragged into a relegation fight. Fingers crossed it’s the former.
The squad for this vital encounter is:

Starting XV

1. M Watson
2. M Orrick
3. C Spedding
4. N Browne
5. K Simpson
6. O Watkins
7. G Stoddart (C)
8. J Kemsley
9. A Maxwell
10. W Forster (VC)
11. M Bowie
12. R Hasnip
13. D Lewis
14. R Stewart
15. G Duffy

Finishers

16. A Samms
17. J Moore
18. C Allot