Boxing Day Teams

By Dave Picken - December 23 2006
Boxing Day Teams
Myers
Davy Tighe returns to the West side which takes on Rovers in the traditional Boxing Day game at Brinkburn [Note 2.00 kick off]. But the skipper will have to be content with the fly half spot as Mikey Young retains the 9 shirt - and faces the prospect of an intriguing battle with Martin Lithgo.

The former Seaton star is one of two guest players in the Rovers squad. The prospect is of an England Under 18 scrum half lining up for West against an England Students scrum half in a Rovers shirt!

Former Rovers prop David Sinclair is the other guest in a white shirt as Rovers reorganise after the loss of two of their New Zealand imports to North 2 West side Tyldesley - the club which gave us a walkover in the first round of the Intermediate Cup.

Once again it will be a young West side which takes to the pitch. Aaron Myers will be in the back row, providing he shakes off a knee injury, while Jon Norris retains the No 3 shirt on merit. Anth Carr has recovered from a badly gashed foot and will be in the front row along with new hooker Andrew Dixon.

Namesake Tom keeps his place in the second row starting alongside Paul Rudd.

In the backs Peter Hodgson is given more time to shake off a knee injury which means a start at inside centre for Neil Howe who impressed against Tech. Andrew Hare returns, after a couple of good shows at full back, with Gavin Painter back on the wing as the talented 17 year old continues his apprenticeship.

The refereee is RFU panel official Brendan Fitzmautrice who has returned to Teesside after spending some time on the Lakeland panel.

It promises to be another intriguing battle, with both sides naming plenty of players on the bench, as the coaches have one eye on January 6th and some vital league points.

We will also be keeping an eye on the weather. The forecast is continuing cold but, if the game is off on Tuesday, the tradition is for it to be played on New Year's Day.

West: Hare, Lambert, Edwards, Howe, G Painter, Tighe [capt], Young, Carr, A Dixon, Norris, Rudd, T Dixon, D Boatman, Myers, J Boatman.

Reps C Robinson, C Miller, Wallis, Moss, Cullinane,Garside, Todd.

Rovers from: Brian Foreman, Phil Hall, Andrew Lilley, Ben Cushlow, Steve Jones, Paul Kirton, Lewis Humble, Chris Sainty, Michael Barnfield, Paul Arnell, Martin Lithgo, Glen Wise, Jonathan Cushlow, David Sinclair, Allen Travis, Andrew Graham, David Carroll, Andrew Palmer, Mark Power (capt), Dean Cook, Colin Watson, Darren Smith, Stuart Ryder, Stewart Grazier, Andrew Dring