Many a care home and day centre will be short of a resident or two on Saturday. The Ring and Ride Bus will be busy as it collects the gereatrics of West Hartlepool for this Durham County Third Team Cup Final. John Painter has cancelled his inter-care home dominoes tie such is the importance of the game.
The quality of the squad will be put to the test with a game on Saturday and then another in the Pyman Shield only three days later.
The road to Brinkburn hasn't been particularly long (thankfully - I don't think we could have managed another round!) but it has taken
us to 2 away trips at Bishop Auckland and Blaydon.
The 20-5 win at Blaydon was tough and a we had a casualty or two but a wins a win and all that. Not to forget it was Baltic and Morgan and Dox were doing there bit for the Scottish Tourist Board.
The Bishop tie was also tricky against a big hard hitting side West just coming out on top 20-17.
Darlington MP have had a tremendous season and this is one of two cup finals for them. Their route to the final has been in comparison by much bigger margins 85-0 against Billingham and in the semi 53-10 against Sunderland. They are a well organised side who must be respected and are not to be underestimated. Home advantage will count for little.
In terms of team news we are still waiting on late fitness tests which are likely to be concluded at the cricket club on Friday night. There is one cry off to report from a respected player who will remain nameless save to say an anagram of his name is Bon Joatman. He is getting a picture of the Nissan Car Factory tattooed on his left calf and Duke the dog on the right. This was by all accounts was a long standing engagement.
So a Cup Final to savour and by all accounts food also to savour from Elmo who promises a little something special. I think he means fish and chips you know!
Kick off is 3pm. Please do get along and support the lads if you can't make the trip to Bradford and Bingley.
Referee Colin Davidson - Durham Society