A very young Stags/Bucks squad came up against a determined Barnard Castle at Brinkburn and lost their warm up game 32-5.
At Hollow Drift iIn the first "half" against Westoe we went down two tries to one. After beating City 1-0 we saved our best performance for the second half hour against the Shieldsmen winning 2-0, and preventing the higher league opposition from getting into our 22.
The final half hour against City saw a much changed West draw one try each.
The plusses of the afternoon included the vigour of the squad who had far more energy than either of the opposition; the leadership and skill of former Horden skipper Owen Bennett in the second row; a skilful display at centre by the returning Liam Bailey and the organisation of the pack.
We did fail to take some simple chances when we had numerical advantage, and there was still far too much querying of refereeing decisions costing us 10 metres on several occasions.
Scott Butcher scored one of the tries of the afternoon weaving his way passed three defenders while there was a brace for Jonny Boatman and one each for Stu Waites and Jay Corbett.
WEST: Pinchen, Rollins A Dixon, Hogan, Bennett, Coates, J Boatman, D Boatman, Atkins, A Robson, Corbett, Painter, Waites, A Cheslin, C Cheslin, Edwards, Butcher, Bailey, Mallinson, Youll.