As a result West sit at the top of the league having overtaken rivals Middlesbrough last week on the narrowest of points differences.
However, Morpeth has become a difficult place for a lot of teams to win. Last season West literally blew their chances of victory when they failed to score a point despite having a gale at their backs in the second half. Morpeth won that one 29-0 having already won at Brinkburn 27-23 earlier in the season.
The Northumbrians are just one point behind West, with Boro and Northern also making up a top four which looks like breaking away from the rest. Fifth place Durham City are already some seven points behind the leading pack.
The hosts go into the game after resolute second half defence saw the win 24-17 at Consett, but this will be the first time they've faced a side the top half of the league
At the same time West were beating Keswick 50-17 at home to gain that one-point advantage over Boro.
There’s the usual injury rest and rotation this week. Ollie Connolly is still unwell and Max Tennantt is away. However, Sam Knight is fit again to come in for Max on the wing while Adam Hutchinson will be in the front row alongside Andrew Rollins and Tom Robertson – the latter almost pinching the Man of the Match award from Jay Corbett last week.
Owen Nugent starts in place of Will Corbett who is still recovering from his cut head, while Connor McLurg returns to the back row alongside Isaac Robinson and Jay Corbett
The Stags are also flying high in CaNDY Division 2 South just five points behind leaders Darlington Bulls, with a game in hand. That game is against Wensleydale who were unable to raise a side to travel to Brinkburn on the first day of the season. This week the game between the clubs is at Leyburn and it’s second top against second bottom.
At Brinkburn we will see old faces returning to action against Darlington IIIs. The biqquad includes Scott Jordan, who last played for West as a 19 year old in 2010 and who is briefly back in the area while working in Newcastle, as well as a few of the up and coming youngsters..
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Firsts @ Morpeth Kick off 3.00 |
Stags @ Wensleydale Kick off 3.00 |
Squad v Darlington Kick Off 3.00 |
| Ben Reed | Kai Peirse | Morgan Hamilton |
| Jacob Wood | Jordan Painter | Luke Thompson |
| Will Hilditch | Greg Edwards | Graeme Southern |
| Peter Youll | Aaron Johnson | Andy Campbell |
| Sam Knight |
Dan Foster | Phill Jukes |
| Matt Siddle | Matt Baggs | Ross Wood |
| Ryan Painter (capt) | Jacob Parker | Graeme Scott |
| Andrew Rollins | Tim Blades | Jon Boatman |
| Tom Robertson | Aidan Jackson-Smith | Paul Willaimson |
| Adam Hutchinson | Fraser Henderson | Brendan Baggs |
| Jake Linighan | Ollie Webster | Aaron Myers |
| Owen Nugent | James Tyers | Aaron Kemp |
| Connor McLurg | Ryan O'Keefe | Mark Lund |
| Isaac Robinson | Jonny Wray | Paul Dickson |
| Jay Corbett | Tom Shaw | Adam Coates |
| Danny Quinn | ||
| Zac Southern | Matty Tyers | Chris Knight |
| Jack Angus | Euan Devonshire | Anth Carr |
| Charlie Kay | Jay Anderson | Jon Cole |
| Scott Jordan | ||
| Ben Lloyd | ||
| Jordan Baggs | ||
| Luke Mallinson | ||
| Curtis Ross | ||
| Liam Larkin | ||
| Charlie Caswell | ||
| Will Collins | ||
| Odin Thorpe | ||
| Glyn Pickering | ||
| Tony Ross | ||
| Tyler Nelson | ||
| Imran Mehdi | ||
| Aaron Pike | ||
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Team Managers - Andrew Dixon Nick Procter |