However, their defeat Pocklington and our victory over bottom club Wheatley Hill has opened up a nine point gap with Penrith now in third place behind Alnwick.

They have yet to be beaten at Winters Park after strengthening their side during the summer. Scrum half George Graham, son of the Scotland prop of the same name, and big forward Callum Rowlandson making an immediate impact.

We go into the game with a number of enforced changes with top try scorer Liam Checksfield away at a Scottish Exiles Under 18’s training camp, and back rows Danny Boatman, Aaron Myers and Lee Maddison all unavailable as is Paul Moss.

Ryan Painter and Joe Rafferty were also due to miss the game, but they're travelling back from their holiday break with "Roo" leading the side in Boatman's absence.

John Bunter moves into the back row with Jay Corbett partnering Rafferty in the second row.

Gregt Edwards joins Peter Youll in the centre, while there's a welcome return to first team action for Joe "in the corner" Willis following  an operation during the summer.

There's an equally welcome debut on the bench for 17 year old Adam Brown -  not so long ago the young kid sat on the team bus beside his Uncle Owen (Bennett.) Brownie is not so small now and Benno will be absolutely delighted and proud to see him make the first team squad. 

 West: Zac Southern, Joe Willis, Peter Youll, Greg Edwards, Will Hilditch, Gav Painter, Ryan Painter (captain), Ross Wood, Andrew Rollins, Michael Hogan, Jay Corbett, Joe Rafferty, Alex Barker, John Bunter, Sam Miller.

Changes: Adam Coates, Luke Mallinson, Adam Brown.