Match Preview

Hartlepool Rovers are on their travels on Saturday when they visit Stockton (kick off 3pm).

The Whites put in a poor display last time out in going down 36-15 to Consett and have yet to win at Stockton’s new Grangefield Ground having lost 23-0 and 20-3 over the last two seasons.

Rovers’ run in to the end of the season of Stockton, Medicals and Ponteland away and Gateshead and Redcar at the New Friarage gives them every chance of climbing a few places with the help also of other results going their way.

Stockton have had their issues like every other club with player injuries and unavailability but, when at full strength, they have enjoyed some good results.

The Friaragemen gave Consett a 31-5 start and so had to chase down yet another game and the team has to find a way of halting this trend. Once the players start to perform they undoubtedly end up enjoying the upper-hand but too often this season there has been too big a gap to make up.

With a good pack and some exciting backs, Stockton have the talent to make life difficult for the White Shirts if they are given the chance.

Rovers: S Railton, Coutts, Mulvihill, Gunn, K Stephenson, Foreman, Rochester, Pinchen, Maguire, Lloyd, S Smith, D Smith, Wood, Church, Whitehead (c). Subs: Burnside, Dring, O’Callaghan