There’s nothing quite like a derby, bragging rights are on the line, they’re enemies on the pitch but friends off it – pick your favourite cliché and get excited for some rugby with just a little bit of extra spice.

Darlington have had a much better start to the season than us having taken 5 wins and a draw against 2 losses in the opening 8 games, this includes some big margins such as a 73 - 21 dismantling of Whitby putting them in 5th place with just over a third of the season gone.

Sedgie of course, prop up the table having struggled for consistency and form with injuries and unavailability causing no end of issues but we are hoping we are starting to see injuries clear up and lads returning back to us. Last time out the performance against Bishop Auckland gave us plenty to be optimistic about even though we missed out on a win.

Past games between the 2 sides have been close encounters with Darlo generally coming out on top but hopefully we can continue being competitive and see if we can come away with the points despite being the underdog.

We have had a really positive few weeks at training with good numbers and 6 new lads choosing to come and see what we are all about at Sedgie. It will be interesting as a coach to have some selection headaches once everyone is available!

Team News

Still a few out injured with Mitch Corney, Seb Wilkins, Tom Ducker, Charlie Johnson, Paul McCormack, Dan Lawson, Max King, Phil Dawson and Ryan Towler all missing with various injuries adding to the general unavailability that impacts all clubs.

Those taking the field for us are a good set and we have been very fortunate to have good numbers allowing us to put lads on the field

Up front, James Watson captains the side from hooker and is propped by Panto villain Graham Brennan and Jamie Allison. Pedro Gray returns from holiday to lock out the second row alongside Bobby Blackburn and Will Johnson and Dom Ryan are joined in the back row by new signing Massimo Impagliazzo who makes his debut against his former club.

In the back line, Nathan Waterhouse returns at number 9 with Chris Dawson following on from his Man of the match showing last time out to edge Gaz Pratt out of the ten shirt. Andy Shepherd and Sam King are a combative centre pairing with John Pope and Andy Fife on the wings. Gaz Pratt moves from stand off to full back to complete our starting line up.

Our finishers are Andy Broere, Michael Bishop and Jonny Castling who all played well for the Saxons last week.

Our Saxons are pleased to be able to help out Newton Aycliffe as they host a return to rugby day, they were really impacted by some players leaving post COVID on top of the player loss that seems to have decimated some local clubs this year, they play South Shields who have also been struggling and had to withdraw from the leagues. We hope both clubs can get back to where they were and keep going as we need more clubs at grass roots level not less!

Heading up the road for us are Ian Storey, Doug Wardle, Neil Hetherington, Michael Reilly, Alex Skuse, Lewis White, Dan Martin, Phil Greenbank, Lee Keillor and Sam North.

For me the big news as always, 28 of our lads getting a game of rugby which is aweome to see

Up the Sedge!