TECH v Percy Park

TECH play the second of three consecutive home games tomorrow, when they play host to Northumberland outfit Percy Park. Despite their home advantage it is sure to be another difficult afternoon for the Grayfields club as the visitors have enjoyed an excellent season which sees them standing third in the table having recorded 14 wins from their 19 games to date.

The first game between the sides was back on 8th September when Park ran out easy winners by the score of 58-0 in a game that set the tone for TECH's season. Despite having travelled with a weakened squad the visitors gave their all throughout but once the hosts realised that if they moved the ball to their speedy backs they were well on top it left TECH to suffer a difficult afternoon.

Although the TECH squad has improved since that opening league day defeat they have continued to struggle due to their small squad and this is sure to have an effect again this week. Following on from last weeks disappointing cup semi final reversal at the hands of Barnard Castle the home side again find selection hindered by unavailability with no less than four of last weeks side being unavailable.

Despite this the side that takes the field will no doubt once again stick to their task throughout and make the visitors work for any points they may get. In the pack hooker Morgan Hamilton misses turning out against Park for the second time this year as he was a late cry off in the first encounter due to the birth of his child. He will be replaced by Sean Cooper who has looked good when called upon of late. He lines up alongside Andy Palmer and Paul Dove in the front row. The second row also sees a change. Andrew Thompson returns after missing the cup semi final to replace the unavailable Guy Hunt. Thompson packs down alongside Steven Clayton. With Richard Robson absent from the back row Andrew Skinner returns to action alongside Carl Brown and Anthony Cameron.

In the backs Michael Siddle and David Cheshire continue at half back. Inside them will be the centre partnership of Nick Corrigan and the ever reliable Michael Parker. The wing berths are likely to be filled by Andrew Coutts and Nigel Bulmer with Mark Lund covering at full back for the unavailable Jon Cole. Also in contention for places in  the back three are David Mullen who was injured last week and Andrew Tweddle.

The squad will be completed by the inclusion of Phil Jukes, thankfully now back playing after missing most of the season and Neil Ladyman.

TECH v Percy Park

Lund, Coutts, Mullen, Parker, Tweddle, Bristow, Corrigan, Bulmer, Cheshire,  Siddle, Dove, Cooper, Palmer, Ladyman, Thompson, Clayton, Jukes, Skinner, Brown, Cameron, Stockdale

To be played at home KO 3pm Meet 1.30pm PROMPT