They wanted to test themselves against different opposition and have made a decent fist of it having a very similar playing record to ourselves - played 18 Won 10 Lost 8. We are one bonus point ahead after finally managing to work out how to win away from home.
Last week's 41-16 victory at Stockton was a massive boost and sets up this week's game very nicely. With seven more games to play after this one there's still lots of points at stake. However, this is definitely one of those "ten pointers" specially as rivals Stockton and Medicals appear to have more difficult fixtures coming up.
Last week's win was achieved with a number of regular players missing. Several are available again this week including Adam Brown and Lewis Scott, but the problem for the coaches is in turning our two competitive sides. The Stags host Gateshead in the CaNDY Bowl and after last week's embarrassment of a very late cry-off against Blaydon there is a determination that that shouldn't happen again.
For the firsts Lewis Scott returns to the wing with Sam Heron moving to full back. Brownie will be providing forward cover from the bench alongside Adam Hutchinson who did a tremendous job at Stockton when he eturned to action in place of a limping Adam Coates.
|
Firsts @ Aspatria Kick off 2.15 |
Stags Squad v Gateshead Kick off 2.00 |
| Sam Heron | Alfie Powell |
| Owen Westhorp | Max Tennant |
| Will Hilditch | Jake Tennant |
| Ollie Connolly | Martin Todd |
| Lewis Scott | Jordan Painter |
| Mat Siddle | Jacob Parker |
| Ryan Painter (capt) | Dan Quinn |
| Tim Blades | Alex Barker |
| Aidan Jackson-Smith | Tom Robertson |
| Adam Coates | James Tyers |
| Jake Linighan | Will Corbett |
| Craig Hadwen | Ollie Webster |
| Chris Atkins | Danny Cookland |
| Isaac Robinson | Fin Ridley |
| Andy Turner | Jack Angus |
| Ryan Godfrey | |
| Adam Hutchinson | Cameron Allison |
| Adam Brown | Liam Pennick |
| Zac Southern | Ros Wood |
| Charlie Caswell | |
| Liam Linton | |
| Liam Larkin | |
| Matthew Smart | |
| Michael Parker | |
| Liam Smith | |
| Graeme Scott | |
| Callum Treagar |