The firsts begin their home campaign in North One East in good form. We are unbeaten in all games so far this season - including friendlies, a Durham Senior Cup tie and last week’s excellent league win at Northern .
The 24-6 victory at McCracken Park was achieved without several regulars first teamers who were injured in the warm-up game against Horden. Forwards Owen Bennett and Ian Pinchen are still injured, but the West coaches are more than happy to name the same starting XV which had Northern on the back foot for much of the game.
Ross Wood [pictured] and Chris Atkins came into the side and worked their socks off - Wood in the set piece and Atkins in the loose.
The organisation and workrate of the whole side was the key factor with some tremendous first up tackling knocking the hosts back time and time again.
In a hard league that type of performance will be needed week in week out. Morpeth always have a handy set of forwards, and by all accounts they have some lively new backs including a couple who have moved up from Colts.
They arrive arrive on the back of an exciting last gasp 26-25 win at home to Wheatley Hills. In fly half Matthew Jinks they have one of the league’s top kickers and we will have tgo keep our discipline and not give away needless penalties.
The coaches have promised that anyone giving an extra ten metres for backchat will be hauled off for a spell on the sidelines. Last week Adam Coates and Ryan Painter discovered they weren't joking, with the entire squad suffering from a bit of a beasting from Gez in training on Tuesday as an added reminder.
The only change to the squad is on the bench. Colin Cheslin is available again and comes in to provide backs cover and to allow Greg Edwards to get some valuable game time with the second team.
West: Luke Mallinson, Scott Butcher, Andrew Cheslin, Liam Bailey, Peter Youll, Stuart Waites, Ryan Painter, Ross Wood , Andrew Rollins, Adam Coates, Michael Hogan, Dan Boatman [c], Chris Atkins, Jon Boatman, Sam Miller Reps: Andrew Dixon, Jay Corbett, Colin Cheslin.
Morpeth:Richie Stephenson, Alex Tait, James Phillips, Paul Wonders, Ben Turner, Matty Jinks, Richard Flook, Karl Campbell, Carl Hill, Liam Carmichael, James Armstrong, Jo Forsythe, Nick Birch, James Defty,Rory Morrison(c). Reps:Andy Shippen, Chris Stodhart, Ben Hornby.