It seems an age  since  Preston Park in North Shields was the venue for our last league game,  with the winners given the honour of hosting Keswick in the first of the new play-off games. Park won the high scoring game 59-41, but Keswick then failed to show for the play-off game. Instead ,Park went to Consett where they lost with the victors then going down to Pocklington,  who then lost the final play-off game to York.

As a result,  all those clubs start in the same league again this season with the RFU learning a lesson and reducing the number of play-offs. This season it will only be the second and third teams who will face off to see who takes  on the equivalent from Regional 2 North East.

West should have had the benefit of starting the season with two home games against Ryton and Penrith. That was before the long hot summer led the RFU to delay the season across the country.

Preparation hasn’t been ideal with the need to give the whole senior squad game time in warm-up games against Darlington, Northern and Old Brodlieans - with mixed results.

One major bonus is the return to action and regular training of Rob Thorn - eight years since he last played for the first team. Rob gets his reward for the hard work with a start on the wing in the absence of Max Tennant.

Aidan Jackson-Smith has a wedding to attend,  with Hyayden Hodgson continuing at hooker alongside Liam Pennick, another hard trainer in pre-season, and Andrew Rollins. Aidan has been lining up in the back-row in the warm-up games,  but this week Charlie Kay and Isaac Robinson will be alongside skipper Chris Atkins.

Jake Linighan is available after his protracted travels last season and he will pack down in the second row alongside Elliott Reed -  one of last season's most improved players.

It promises to be another open game although possbly not with 100 points scored this time. 

Back at Brinkburn,  Rovers first team will be a star attraction as the Friaragemen look to get back on track to earn a promotion,  which would once again see them playing first teams.

They will face a Stags team once again led by Jonny Wray and combining a mix of experience and youth, which sees the skipper lining up in the second row alongside the promising Louis Ward