This week the firsts are off to Hollow Drift to take on City, while the Stags host Redcar 1sts in Counties 2. The  Bucks were due welcome Upper Eden IIs in Counties 3 but the Cumbrians are struggling for players.

For the firsts top points scorer Jobe Roxby is still away and top try scorer Sam Knight is unavailable, while Jake Linighan is still on the injured list.

However, Matt Siddle has recovered from a knock to continue at fly-half as he establishes an unbroken 100-game first team run. A tremendous achievement in  this day and age. 

Also on the plus side, Max Tennant is back and Ollie Connolly has recovered from his hamstring strain. Both start with Rob Thorn continuing on the wing after his trademark try to secure the bonus point last week.

Up front the pack will be looking to continue their excellent form from last week.  Ryan O’Keefe came into the starting line-up after Linighan’s injury in the warm-up,  and he and fellow lock Elliot Reed went on to have tremendous games, particularly with their tackle count.  Similarly, Isaac Robinson was back to top form when he came on  - although  most supporters didn’t recognise him in his new white scrum cap. He will start this week as the only change in the pack

They’ll take on a city side which, in  keeping with most teams in this league, have had a mixed set of results. In their only home game so far they went down 17-46 to Morpeth, then lost narrowly at newly promoted Novos before doing something West have struggled to accomplish – a win at Keswick last week by the handsome margin of 24-37.

The Stags will be at home and will be bolstered by a return to action of Alex Barker, who starts in the back row, and Ryan Painter who will be on the bench. Tom Shaw also starts at No 8 while Stu Waites will be running things from scrum half. It should be a very interesting game  for those not able to travel to City.