Sedgie welcome Ashington to the Wok hoping to bounce back from last weeks disappointing home loss v Ryton where our lads cut frustrated figures as we didn't get near where we needed to be and were well beaten. We had been much improved until then, we probably just need to accept that improvement curves arent straight lines and there are bound to be blips along the way. Before last week we had seen to decent performances so we will hope to pick things back up for Ashington who will be a very tough opposition.

Ashington started the season with a bang and were riding high, but a lean spell between mid November and Xmas has saw them fall into mid table, they picked up a win over Whitby at the turn of the year but were well beaten last week down the road at Darlo. They have gone through somewhat a change in style, traditionally a very heavy pack, last time we met they showed a willingness to move the ball and gave us a good beating at the Rec back in October 47 -3. A strange one in that since we switched fixtures in October due to a cricket club clash we are the away side (Just playing at home!)

a 2:15pm kick off (2pm kick offs only apply within Durham)

Team News

There is opportunity for some to stake claims for places for the season run in with some regulars away this week, selection headaches at hooker with Mitch Corney stepping in as cover from number 8 for James Watson (Neck Injury), James Allison (Back Injury), Seb Wilkins (Away), Neil Hetherington (Covid) all ruled out. Graham Brennan is ruled out with a shoulder injury so Tom Ducker slides over to Loosehead with Dan Lawson at Tighthead. Dan Martin locks out with Pedro Gray in the Second row while in the back row there is a return for Paul McCormack who is looking to bring a bit of dog to our pack at Blindside (That'll teach you for coming down and having a few pints and offering to return!) Will Johnson moves over to Openside. Massimo Impagliazzo gets a chance in his favoured Number 8 shirt.

In the backs, Nathan Waterhouse and Owen Robinson are missing from last week. Tom Flatters takes over at 9 after impressing last week with Gareth Pratt at fly half. John Pope and Terry Cook keep their places in the centres and out wide Ryan Towler and Lawrence Oliver will be hoping to get on the end of things. Andy Fife is dependable at full back.

The finishers this week sees a welcome return to the fold for 'Lazarus' Phil Dawson who has recovered from injury and he is joined by Andy Shepherd and Michael Reilly.

Opportunity for some lads getting a shot to play in the position the favour so they need to show what they can do to hold on to the jersey for when others return.

Decent training session on Thursday will hopefully put us in good stead and we can see another good Sedgie performance.

#UptheSedge