Sedgie were glad to see the back of 2021 after a challenging start to the season saw us propping up DN2 and struggling to regularly field a Saxons side in the TVSL.

To say we are pleased to be able to field 2 sides on the opening weekend is an understatement!

For the 1st XV we welcome high flyers Hartlepool Old Boys to the Wok for a very tough start to 2022, Hartlepool are sitting in 2nd place after an impressive run of results and they ended the year with a thumping 42 - 0 win over fellow high flyers Darlington. They have been beaten only twice so far, once by Darlington in the reverse fixture and by champions in waiting Guisbrough so we are under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task at hand. However, we are also looking forward to a run of Home fixtures after being on the road a lot during the first half of the season.

The Saxons will make the trip to Guisbrough, buoyed by many returning back to the fold and hoping this will be a return to regular fixtures for them.

Team News

Of course the spectre of COVID isolations is something impacting everyone and we can only hope we can get the sides out on Saturday without the dreaded Lateral flow test ruling out more of our lads.. 8 so far having to isolate and not available. We do welcome back Dave Hewitson to our squad after some time away and Ryan Towler also making a return, Seb Wilkins has recovered from an ankle injury and Tom Flatters is the latest to try on the number 9 shirt.

The Saxons also welcome back some returnees with Rob Wade returning to us and Gareth Wright is back to pack down after taking some time away to enjoy his new fatherhood.

1st XV v Hartlepool (Home 2pm Kick Off)

Graham Brennan
James Watson (C)
Tom Ducker
Pedro Gray
Dan Lawson
Will Johnson (VC)
Dom Ryan
Mitch Corney

Tom Flatters
Gareth Pratt
Andy Shepherd
Lawrence Oliver
John Pope
Ryan Towler
Andy Fife

Massimo Impagliazzo
Dave Hewitson
Seb Wilkins

Saxons V Guisbrough (Away, 2pm kick off)

Michael Bishop
Neil Hetherington
Stu Walton
Andy Broere
Rob Wade
Doug Wardle
Stephen Portlock
Gareth Wright
Lee Keillor
Jonny Castling
Jordan Portlock
Jamie Wilson
Danny Wolfe
Alex Skuse
Kyle Smith

Dan Machell
Jordan Cooksey
AN Other