West lost the last home game to newly promoted Sunderland,  who came out 13-11 winners at a sodden Brinkburn. However, they put matters right at Pennine Park in Kirkby Stephen where a hardworking and intelligent display earned all five points courtesy of a 26-18 win.

This week Aspatria will arrive with two more league points from their first four games having had the benefit of three of  them being at Bower Park. The only away  game seeing them beaten  29-0 at Morpeth.

So far this season,  West have used 27 players in the first team, and there are changes again this week.

They include Max Tennant, last season’s top try scorer, who was finally fit to play his first game of the season last week. He was devastated when he had to come off in the first half, after taking a nasty knock tackling Upper Eden’s try-scoring prop.

Nick Bennions’ four tries see him leading this season’s try-scoring table - sadly Max will have to wait a few more weeks before trying to catch up. Fortunately, Sam Knight is fit again to start on the wing.

Skipper Chris Atkins injured a knee last week. He will be replaced by Chino Rocha at No.8 who will be alongside Connor McLurg and Charlie Kay, who both had stand-out games at Upper Eden.

It’s also a notable day for the Hodgson family. It’s Alan and Ann’s Golden Wedding and they will celebrate by seeing grandson Hayden on the West bench following his excellent show for the Stags last week. Congratulations to them all.

Last week’s storm failed to stop the Stags running in 65 points against Blaydon Georgians’ and they’re in CaNDY One action again this week with a trip to Alnwick. Possibly a tougher test.

The Bucks are also in Northumberland to take on Ashington in a friendly game with both  our sides travelling together by coach.  A busy day and notable for the number of “unavailables” who could  easily have formed an additional  team.