The Stags are riding high at the top of the Tees Valley Merit League, thanks to some consistent performances, and the first team will need to build that into their performances.
An errant twenty minutes at Morpeth has possibly ruled us out of any promotion hopes, but apart from that we have been showing promtion form since well before Christmas.
Beverley, on the other hand, have been performing for most of the season and demolished local rivals Driffield on their own patch last week. They can see the finishing rail and will have been grateful to us for disposing of City last week as they, along with Penrith, make up the three horse promotion race.
The Beaver Park side has a fair sharec of imports and an influential fly half in Kiwi and Croatian international Anthony Posa. He is adept at using his boot to keep play in the opposition 22 - and letting a strong pack do the rest.
In the Brinkburn game we managed to nullify the threat until injuruy time when he slotted a consolation drop goal but we took the points with a try and a penalty.
There's no doubt we have improved considerably as a team since then but we probably didn't see the best of Beverely on that day. It promises to be an intriguing game.
West Thomas, Lambert, Edwards, Hodgson, Todd, Moss, Tighe [capt], Carr, Sawyer, Robinson, Rudd, Davies, D Boatman, Tones, J Boatman.
Reps from: Cullinane, Wallis, Hare, Myers.
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