Match Preview

After a promising pre-season programme it’s league action for Hartlepool Rovers on Saturday when they visit Redcar (kick off 3pm).

The trip to Mackinlay Park will be a stern test of Rovers’ credentials with the hosts having won last season’s Durham Northumberland Two title. Rovers should start as favourites but know Redcar will want to put down a marker just as much as the visitors do.

Redcar have lost former Rover Brian Foreman to the island of Jersey but name ex-Whites duo Ben Durrans on the wing and Michael Tucker on the bench.

Following warm-up wins at Acklam, Hartlepool and West Hartlepool , it’s now time for serious rugby to start and the fixture list has given the Friaragemen a tough September with the visit to Redcar followed by a home derby with Horden and Peterlee, a trip to Westoe and a home date with Gosforth.

Selection for the White Shirts shows a backline with the twin abilities of solid defence and quick attack plus what has been a very accurate kicking right foot of Daz Fawcett in the pre-season fixtures. Up front, although without skipper Callum Whitehead, there is strength and mobility throughout the pack with Liam Wood in particular having been in excellent form.

Head coach Jon Benson, who put in a great display against Medicals at the end of last season is named on the bench alongside Ian Pinchen and Tyrone Church.

Rovers: Rochester, Mulvihill, S Barnfield, Evens, Harrison, Fawcett, Pelser, R Clayton, Pinchen, Lloyd, Langley, D Smith, Dring (c), Wood, Charters. Subs: Benson, Flounders, Church

Preview: Ian Kelly