The youthful hosts will have the advantage playing on their own artificial grass pitch following their 34-24 win on Billingham’s own plastic surface last week.
Meanwhile, the Stags and Durham City Saracens put on the proverbial game of two halves at Hollow Drift. The Stags racing into a four try lead with some impressive handling, which saw Liam Liston, Ollie Webster (twice) and Aaron Pike all crossing.
City bucked up in a frustrating second half scoring twice before Will Hilditch sealed matters 34-10 with two tries from deep.
Last week’s side was missing several players who were late cry-offs with the coaches having to ring round players who had already featured for the Stags this season. As a result, the substitutes bench was depleted and the squad turned up with the Academy’s strip by mistake with the pink Ladies Day strip arriving just before kick -off.
Regardless, it was an excellent performance from a side which had up and coming teenagers playing alongside players twice their age.
Nick Bennions picked up a shoulder injury last week so Scott Butcher returns at No.8. Tim Blades also starts in the front row as Fraser Henderson is also carrying a shoulder injury and in the backs Jordan Painter is available and starts on the wing.
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Stags @ Blaydon Kick off 3.00 |
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| 15 | Ben Reed |
| 14 | Jordan Painter |
| 13 | Greg Edwards |
| 12 | Martin Todd (capt) |
| 11 | Aaron Pike |
| 10 | Zac Southern |
| 9 | Kai Peirse |
| 1 | Tim Blades |
| 2 | Liam Liston |
| 3 | Jack Angus |
| 4 | Jon Wray |
| 5 | Ollie Webster |
| 6 | Tom Robertson |
| 7 | Charlie Kay |
| 8 | Scott Butcher |
| 16 | Cameron Mould |
| 17 | Jacob Parker |
| 18 | Dan Robson |
| 19 | Jacob Wood |
| 20 | Matty Baggs |
| 21 | Adam Coates |
| 22 | James Tyers |