Saturday's star attraction [hopefully] is the visit of league leaders Penrith. The Cumbrians have been a surprise package this season and it's looking like becoming a two horse race for the title with Beverley.

It might have been even closer if it hadn't been for a bit of controversy at Penrith earlier this season. We were leading by five points eight minutes into injury time when the Ref awarded a try even though Tim Sawyer appeared to have snaffled the ball over our try line. He was actually sitting with the ball in his hands, but at least thought we had won a point with a tremendous backs to the wall performance, as surely South African kicker Conrad Jansen wouldn't convert from the touch line. Sadly for us he did.

It became even more surreal in the clubhouse when the Penrith touch judge rounded on the Ref saying he'd told him it wasn't a try. The Ref said he had blown for the try and couln't undo his decision! It's an exciting life as and Alicadoo.

Still there was no arguing that on the day Penrith were a strong side, and they have gone on to cement their place at the top with Jansen playing a major role.

They'll be in confident mood, but will face a rejuvenated West side which has suddnly shot up the N2E try scoring league. Not surprisingly the coaches are loathe to make many changes and the ones they do make are tactical.

As a result Carl Miller will be starting at No 8 with the Boatmans on the flanks. With Brett Cullinane now banned for 6 weeks, following his sending off against Stockton0and Martin Todd and Andrew Hare both unavailable.

West Thomas, Lambert, Edwards, Hodgson, Weegram, Moss, Tighe [capt], Carr, Sawyer, Robinson, Rudd, Davies, D Boatman, J Boatman, C Miller. Reps: Tones, Wallis, Cholmondeley.

Penrith: 15 Dan White 14 Conraad Jansen 13 Gavin Young 12 James Stainton 11 Paul Hetherington 10 Stuart Wilson 9 Toby Slack 1 James Lund [capt] 2 Mark Taylor 3 Robert Wilson 4 Robert Dawson 5 Tom Shepherd 6 Glen Murray 7 Mike Stephens 8 Mike Raine

Reps: 16 Tom Thwaites 17 Keith Robinson 18 Ed Swale

The Stags look to continue their form at the top of the Tees Valley Merit League with Middlesbrough III's as the visitors, while the Ams run up a thirst for Nick Smith's 40th birthday bash with a home game against Horden III's. [Can't help wondering if we have ordered enough beer!]

But the weekend's bigest game is undoubtedly at Old Northamptonians. The Colts travel at 8 a.m. on Sunday with a full coachload of supporters and a determinatioin to get into the semi-final.

They have no major injury worries, but coach Steve Barker will be keeping an anxious eye on Lambert's run in the first team and news of Aaaron Myers's progress with England Under 18's on Saturday alongside Mikey Young.