But those of us who travel far and wide answering the perennial question ["Tell me what has happened to the once mighty West Hartlepool?" - Stock answer: "We've been there, done it, and are still in business. Tell me what have you been up to?"] will know that we don't always do well in Yorkshire

At least that's the myth which sprang up after a dreadful performance at Redcar, and a tonking at Driffield on a day when Davy Tighe was injured after ten seconds and everything went to hand for the home side.

We have had better luck at Sandal over the years, fought out a great draw at Bridlington in appalling conditions, and might have embarassed Beverley last season if Anth Carr had not been sent off for an "offence" which was overturned after the appeals committee saw the video.

Already this season we have won in Rochdale [not that far over the border!] and Rochdale won at Sheffield last time out - so read into that what you want.

We played Sheffield at the end of last season losing 22-19 and they told us that Tigers would be the ones to beat this season. Their rivals had come up the leagues thanks to imports, who all work at the factory run by one of their club stalwarts. During the close season Tigers the promptly signed Sheffield's star prop to add insult to injury.

Against that backdrop Sheffield are continuing to run their club in the traditional way. They enjoyed a memorable 27-27 draw with Old Crossleyans and beat Rovers on the opening day of the season but did lose at Pery Park a couple of weeks ago.

If we are to stay in touch at the top it's a game we have to win. Hopefully, one or two knocks will have cleared up after last week's cup debacle and it will be a strong squad which heads down the A1.

Aaron Myers has recovered from his ankle injuruy and will be in a back row which has Jon Boatman in tremendous form and brother Dan and Aaron not far behind.

Davy Tighe will be missing, because of babysitting duties, but we have an excellent replacement in Paul Williamson.

In the second row Phil Henderson gets another deserved run-out after his excellent show at Rochdale, while Paul Rudd returns from injury but has to be content with a place on the bench alongside Carlo Robinson and Andrew Hare.

West Todd, Lambert, Edwards, Hodgson, Painter, Moss, Williamson, Carr, Cullinane, Noris, Davies, Henderson, D Boatman, Myers, J Boatman.

Reps: Robinson, Rudd, Hare.