Match Preview

The boys go into this Battle of the Roundabout match in pretty good spirits after a run of wins against Stockton, Nth Shields and Horden. In addition to that feel good factor we welcome back lads who were unavailable last weekend - Josh Stacey, Sam Davey, Pat Smith, and Ben Wollerton.

We go with a balanced front row with plenty of options mix it up during the match. Pete Twentyman, Daniel Shuttleworth - last weeks man of the match and Luke Menzfeld will start in the front row. Josh Stacey will be off the bench and wanting to claim back his starting shirt. Outside of that we have gone for lads who are going to work hard over the 80 mins. Ross Radford returns to the side after a week in the two's - he will partner Darren Kelly who is in great form. George Bambrick will be hoping that more competition is allowed at the breakdown this week. The forward unit is finished off with Andy Hall, Sean Ramsay and Louis Matthews who will be tasked with causing chaos in attack and wrecking thing sin defence.

In the backs Lewis Chater and Sam Devey are reinstated at 9 and 10 despite Jonny Winterhalder's excellent debut on Saturday. I am sure that Winterhalder will see more action in the 1's before the end of the season. However, Chater and Devey have combined well since January and deserve a chance in this fixture to call the shots.

Sam Busby is quickly getting up to speed after time away from the club. He has a new centre partner this week as the impressive Jack Hearn is unavailable. We welcome back Pat Smith into the group - Pat is a very talented utility back who can play 10/12/13. The back three includes Connor Taylor in his first season with the club - Conor is a hard hitting defender who will carry hard all day. The other wing is taken by the squads top try scorer - Shaun Stewart. Shaun has been in great form with the boot this season as well. The 15 shirt returns to Ben Wollerton this week - he was missing last week due to RGS teaching duties.

The boys will be training hard this week trying to rectify the loss to Medicals earlier in the season. It was a disappointing loss given we dominated the match and Medicals scored a couple of soft tries and we sustained a season ending injury to Rich Harrison. The group have been given some specific tasks to work on before Saturday.

After the game we will be having a couple of beers with Iain Dodds who is moving to Melbourne in the near future. We wish Doddsy and his partner all the best in their new move. So get down and share one last pint with him, a story perhaps. I have known this fella since he was at Sunderland Uni - some great memories to discuss before he leaves.

Hoping for four side this week - Up the Vos !