Chris Lambert also returns to the first team, after helping the Colts to an impressive win at Moseley in the National Cup. So Martin Todd has to be content with a place on the bench, on his return to action after being away on a course, with Danny Weegram once again impressive on the left wing. Andrew Hareis unavailable.

Tim Sawyer will once again be at hooker and celebrating the arrival of his first child ... a healthy young lady weighing 8lbs 1oz. Congratulations to the Sawyers from all at West.

Dave Stubbs and Paul Burgon missed last week's late try feast against Stockton but will be warning the players not to be complacent - despite taking on a Sandal side which plainly has major problems.

Getting players to travel, or second teamers to play for the firsts, has always been a problem for Sandal since they stopped playing players and slipped down the leagues in tandem with West.

So far they have failed to fulfil three away fixtures. Last week they got a hammering at Driffield where the score was not officially recorded because they had to field four unregistered players - effectively forfeiting the game before they kicked off.

Presumably they have been able to register players this week and are always strong on their own sloping pitch.

Our last away trip at Beverley was reffed by a London official who, in his report on the Anth Carr sending off, commented that it was the most fiercely fought contest he had been in charge of this season. We also have a London official in charge at Milnthorpe Green and it is to be hoped that the "cultural gap" witnessed at Beverley [to the equal bafflement of both teams and sets of supporters] is not to so evident in Sandal.

West: Thomas, Lambert, Edwards, Hodgson, Weegram, Moss, Tighe, Carr, Sawyer, Robinson, Rudd, davies, D Boatman, Tones, J. Boatman. Reps from: Wallis, Todd, C Miller, Cholmondeley.