The Firsts go into their final game against the league’s bottom side knowing that form will once again be out of the window thanks to local bragging rights. The slender win against Rovers, and the slice of luck at the end with two missed penalties, should be enough warning. The side which wants it more tends to win – most of the time.

Irrespective of post-match banter with “the leds” a win is needed to keep any hopes of promotion alive. This season has been a strange one in that there is no relegation and a handful of teams will be moved up into a new level 6 next season. More leagues at this level, but a reduction in teams in each league from 14 to 12.

The RFU argues that players want less games and don’t want to travel. “Not so” say Treasurers and players alike, but the stats can be argued either way. We have struggled to get players to travel even to Wearside and Tyneside - that’s for sure.

On the positive side 44 lads can say they played first team rugby this season, while at the same time we have struggled to get a second team out. It’s not just West, of course, Rovers couldn’t raise a side to host Percy Park but were able to turn out two competitive sides the following week against both of the West senior sides. The legacy of Covid or a quantum shift in how players view Saturday afternoon? Time may tell.

In the meantime, this season’s affairs are not wound up. The RFU say that the top four will be promoted and there’s a good chance that the fifth placed side will also go up as league numbers are balanced across the country.

Before kick-off we are in with chance of finishing either fourth of fifth, but destiny is not in our hands. If Stockton lose at Rockcliff, or Aspatria fail to win at Sunderland, and we get five points we could end up in one of those positions. But only if we win.

The side tasked with that will see the return of the influential Jake Linighan and Adam Brown and will also feature two of the pluses of his season in prop Adam Hutchinson and second row Tom Robertson. Both came out of the Academy and have grown as the season has gone on. Quite often it's backs who move up to senior rugby and make an immediate impact, so it is a major bonus to have two forwards making such progress.

We have also been bolstered by the return of Matt Siddle from Essex and the arrival of Sam Heron from City. Both have a refreshing fizz and determination about their play and can be relied on to turn out every week. The return of Andy Turner from his long-term injury problems has been another major bonus.

This season took ages to get anything resembling a settled side on the pitch, which is why it took until February to register a first away win. Regardless of which league we are playing in next season, we will hopefully end  pre-season with the coaches assured of who they will be able to call on, and be given the opportunity to work with Saturday’s team at least at one training session during the week. All too often this season the task has been focused on getting 18 names on the team sheet. Not so this week with 30 players training last night and two strong squads selected.

It won't be the last game for the Stags who have a Candy Cup Bowl final to look forward to next Saturday. They'll take on Berwick Bears at Ponteland kick off 3.00.