The last thing we had wanted was to go to Alwnick needing a win, although their form has dipped considerably in the last few weeks, and they could well be missing a few regulars because of lambing.... not something which normally stops Chocky or Garse from playing.
It had been hoped by now that some of the up and coming Stags players could be given a first team run out. Tomorrow would have been an ideal opportunity but the Payman Cup final is taking precedence at the moment and nobody wants to risk injury.
However, stand off James Hauxwell is unavailable so Stags centre Phil Wallis will be at 10.
In a mixed season the way the Stags have progressed has been a major plus with quite a few of them knocking on the first team door. On Wednesday the coach travelled from the Midlands to watch the game against Hartlepool II's before heading back off to Manchester straight after the game. He said it hadn't been a wasted journey.
West: Darren Thomas, Martin Todd, Peter Hodgson, Allan Milne, Andrew Hare, Phil Wallis, Davy Tighe [capt], Brett Cullinane. Anth Carr, Mark Cholmondeley, Paul Rudd, Andrew Davies, Tim Sawyer, Henry Tones, Jon Boatman. Reps: Carl Miller, Ryan Phillips, Alex Barker.