Match Preview

Hartlepool Rovers are on the road as they start their league campaign at Northern on Saturday (kick off 3pm).

After three big wins over Whitley Bay Rockliffe, Richmondshire and last week’s Durham Intermediate Cup clash over Horden and Peterlee, the Whites, notorious slow starters, ought to travel to McCracken Park in confident mood.

Despite their two friendly wins, the cup tie against H&P was a chance to measure up against a much stronger opposition.

Any win over the Collierymen would have been taken at kick off but the eight-try massacre of their local rivals will have raised eyebrows amongst Rovers’ Durham Northumberland One rivals.

The Friaragemen will not want an ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ performance which has too often happened in years gone by and, on the strength of their three matches so far this season it ought not to happen.

Northern, relegated from North One East at the end of last season, will be one of the promotion favourites but the White Shirts have the chance to put down a marker.

Rovers: Foreman, Harrison, S Barnfield, Gunn, Rochester, Evens, Pelser, N Stead, T Stead, Pinchen, Langley, Little, O’Callaghan, Wood, Dring (c). Subs: S Smith, Burnside, I Flounders