Its a local derby for the 1st XV this weekend as we visit close neighbours Bishop in Durham & Northumberland division 2, last weekend saw us climb out of the bottom 3 courtesy of a good win over Gosforth. This is likely to be a tough game against a strong and streetwise side who always have a strong and well practised game plan.

The Opposition

Bishop have had a mixed start to the season by virtue of some big wins over Blyth, Gosforth, Seaton Carew and Whitby but they have also been well beaten a couple of times... The most notable result was giving Ponteland a big scare a few weeks ago. Of course in a local derby form goes out of the window.

Team News

Another strong squad named as strength in depth is starting to help us now with several players unlucky not to be included but forming the basis of a very strong Saxons squad. Competition for places is really hotting up and there were several permutations that could have been very different... Great problems for the coaching team to have.

Ollie Barker and James Watson will again be at loosehead and hooker respectively, Dan Lawson comes in for the unavailable James Allison in the front row. Paul Wilkinson and Pedro Gray are the 2nd row partnership, Gray returning to his old stomping ground with plenty of banter flying about. Paul McCormack is reinstated to the starting XV after prowling the bench like a caged old lion last week and Will Johnson moves up to openside from Number 8. Kyle Sutcliffe returns to the squad at number 8.

Nathan Waterhouse is at scrum half and Chris Dawson again at stand off. Club Captain Phil Dawson is at inside centre alongside another former Bishop man in Lawrence Oliver. Out wide Danny Wolfe and Andy Fife wing it with Owen Robinson at full back.

The bench is strong again with Bobby Blackburn coming in after storming performances for the Saxons... Including some nifty footwork as a centre! Ollie Lines covers a multitude of areas including his preferred back row and to cover our back line Adam Grieve is a very welcome return from wedding and honeymoon duties. All three will be very much utilised throughout the day.