It shows how far the club has come, both on and off the pitch, since moving to the Catcote Road side of Brinkburn. The current icing on the cake is that the first team are riding high at the top of North Two East, having so far beaten every side in the league, with Rovers the only side we haven't yet played.

Our neighbours would be delighted to break that winning run, and will go into the game buoyed by a surprise win at Aspatria last week. Chris Sainty landed three late penalties to seal a hard earned win but the winger will be missing for the derby after breaking his hand.

It all sets the derby game up nicely. So much so that the Stags and 3Ams will kick off their games early to allow the players to take their places at the New Friarage for the main encounter.

Surprisingly, in some respects, West field the same team which played through the niggles and disruption imposed by Gateshead last week to record a 30 point winning margin.

The result was achieved with only 14 men after skipper Anth Carr was sent off after ten minutes. He took matters into his own hands when visiting No 8 David Glendinningg once again got involved in skirmish with a couple of West forwards. Glendinning himself was eventually also red carded in the second half.

The club is taking its own disciplinary action, ahead of the RFU hearing, starting with Carr being relieved of the captaincy for the Rovers game. The fact that he is in the starting line up is down to the fact that fellow props Ryan Phllips and John Greenwell are in plaster, after breaking their ankles, while Michael Hogan has his arm in plaster after jamming it in a car door.

That leaves the club down to three front rows per team plus a replacement - the bare minimum required by the RFU.

Peter Hodgson takes over as skipper. He will be looking to his fellow backs to keep up their excellent defensive work which has seen just one try scored against us in the last three games.

With Rob Thorn and Andrew Hare in fine form out wide we've also been scoring a few of our own.

Rovers B Foreman, Henderson, Jones (c), Kirton, Lilley, Rose, G Foreman, S Smith, J Cushlow, Wise, Power, D Smith, S Palmer, Dring, S Hall. Subs: Shepherd, Taylor, T King.

West: Painter, Thorn, Hodgson, Howe, Hare, Moss, Tighe, Carr [capt], A Dixon, Robinson, Rudd, T Dixon, D Boatman, J Boatman, Garside. Reps: Cullinane, C Miller, C Cheslin.

Referee: Ian Tempest [Liverpool; Society]

Related Links:
West 38 Gateshead 8