Medicals have very kindly stepped into the gap, created by Penrith's withdrawal, for a full 80-minute game on Saturday August 31st with a 2.00 kick off. The previous evening the Stags host Darlington II's with a 6.45 kick off.
The full scale workouts will give all of the teams the chance to get used to several new laws - most notably the offside infringement from a clearing kick. Phill Jukes officated at Thursday's training session where he was able to impose the new law. Basically, if a player decides to opt for a clearing kick from deep, and over the heads of his teammates, they all have to physically move back towards him - no standing still waiting for a runner to play them onside.
Other new laws include the banning of the "crocodile roll" where a tackled player is rolled on the floor, and opting for a scrum from a free-kick is no longer permissible.