Barnard Castle Preview

By Dave Picken - March 8 2019
Barnard Castle Preview
We travel to Barnard Castle knowing that a win almost certainly put us in the top two for the first time this season .....

Current leaders Durham City and Northern meet at Hollow Drift with the winner of that game finishing the day in the one automatic promotion place in Durham and Northumberland One.

We have been two points behind the joint leaders for some weeks, but with only five games to go this week could be the ideal time to move into the play-off place as pressure mounts.

On paper we have the easier run-in despite having to travel to City on March 30th for what could prove to be the promotion showdown.

The forwards have hit form at the right time with Davy Heckles returning to the club to strengthen the back line – both he and Ryan Painter grabbing three tries each last week in the 75-0 win over bottom club Whitby.

That was achieved without top try scorer Will Hilditch, who is recovering from an ankle injury, and Gavin Painter who has a knee problem. The same fate has befallen Zac Southern who misses his first game in three years with Luke Mallinson taking his place at full back.

Atkins, Cookland and Linighan are unavailable -  fortunately Adam Brown is over his knock to the head and returns in the front row with Micahel Hogan, another welcome returnee, partnering John Bunter in the second row.

They'll face a Barnard Castle side whose form has slumped with only one win so far in 2019 following the loss of several influential players. However, they put up a good show in tehe 24-10 home defeat by Northern, and have a powerful No 8 in Rob Stanwix whose experiene will no doubt be helping the youngsters who have been drafted in.

West: Luke Mallinson, Callum Johnston, Davy Heckles, Peter Youll, Max Tennant, Stu Waites, Ryan Painter (captain), Adam Coates, Andrew Rollins, Adam Brown, John Bunter, Michael Hogan, Scott Butcher, Isaac Robinson, Jay Corbett.

Changes: Adam Peacock, Jonny Hunter, Alex Barker.

 
Barnard Castle Preview
Posted by: Official West Hartlepool RFC (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2019 09:56


Re: Barnard Castle Preview
Posted by: old shepherd (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2019 10:07

Go West! Big push from now on in. It's in our hands.

Re: Barnard Castle Preview
Posted by: Carlo03 (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2019 14:39

We must be confident only starting with 14 men

Re: Barnard Castle Preview
Posted by: LesterP (IP Logged)
Date: 08/03/2019 18:05

Here we go again.

Stand Fast Boys - No Surrender !

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