Rovers’ opponents, Billingham, have moved up as champions of Durham Northumberland One to take the Whites’ place in North Two East and thoroughly deserved the title with some big wins in, as Rovers will discover next season, a very competitive division.

That Billingham will, as a result of their impressive league record and quarter final win over West, start the final as huge favourites ought to be the spur that Rovers need as they seek to secure some silverware.

The Friaragemen have been in good form in recent weeks but the upturn came too late to save their North Two East status and they now need to raise their game against a Billingham side who possess a backline with the ability to run riot. The old adage that you can’t play without the ball is one that Rovers should look to use and if the Rovers’ eight can get on top then the Evans, Hyndman and Shepherd brothers will have limited possession. The White Shirts’ defence and first up tackling will also need to be 100% perfect if the Billingham backline are to be held at bay.

Rovers have their own skill in the threequarters, however, and will be looking to bring the likes of leading try scorer Brian Foreman and full back Mark Shires into play at every opportunity. ‘Crouchy’ has scored a couple of very good tries lately and the eldest of the Foreman brothers will want to get his try count for the season into double figures.

Simon Hall has been ruled out through injury which means Michael Taylor, a half time substitute against West comes in at openside flanker. The forwards will need to get on top and loosehead Michael Tucker will be looking to continue his fine from of late.

In the backs, Phil Hall plays at stand off, allowing stand in skipper Gareth Foreman to play in his favoured position of scrum half. Rovers have been boosted by the availability of Simon Rutherford and his centre partnership with Brian Foreman will be crucial. Goalkicker Chris Sainty’s role could well have a bearing on the result and the left winger scored twelve of Rovers seventeen points in the league loss against West last time out.

Rovers: Shires, Lilley, B Foreman, Rutherford, Sainty, P Hall, G Foreman, Tucker, J Cushlow, Wise, D Smith, Wallis, Kirton, Taylor, Grazier. Subs: Bingham, I Pinchen, Howe, A Pinchen, A Arnell, Rose, Craig

Billingham: C Shepherd, P Shepherd, A Hyndman, C Hyndman, M Evans, J Evans, Woodhouse, D Robinson, Amos, Youdale, Dalton, Wildredge, Hutchinson, D Robinson, Dixon. Subs: P Evans, Liddle, Tennent, Garbutt, Sayers, Wray, Keenan

Referee: Derek Blake (Durham Society)

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