Wakeham, Faamau, Hogg, Scales and Watson return for Bradford trip tomorrow.

JAMES LEACH IN ACTION AGAINST NORTH RIBBLESDALE LAST SEASON  Andy Standing

Scarborough will look to bounce back from last week’s woeful performance in losing to Middlesbrough in the Yorkshire Shield when they play Bradford Salem at Shay Lane, Bradford tomorrow.

The Seasiders turned in easily their poorest home performance in several seasons as they slipped to a 12-25 defeat to the Teesiders at Silver Royd. To compound their misery, Coach Lee Douglas’ charges lost the services of promising lock forward James Leach who dislocated his knee and was taken to Scarborough Hospital and subsequently to York where he underwent surgery on Wednesday and Thursday. Due to the delay caused by the injury and the inability to move James the game was completed on an adjacent pitch.

James’s family informed me on Wednesday that he had been moved from Scarborough hospital to York for surgery on Wednesday on serious leg injuries. James has snapped all but one of the ligaments supporting his knee and more worryingly has serious nerve damage to his leg. He is in good spirits but obviously his family are worried about the outcome following the surgery. I’ll report his progress in this blog and on the SCARBOROUGH RUGBY UNION FOOTBAL CLUB facebook page when I have more news. Best of luck James

PHIL WATSON RETURNS FROM LONG-TERM INJURY

Better news on the injury front sees the return to action at Bradford of Jordan Wakeham, Isaac Faamau, Graham Hogg, Richard Scales and former skipper Phil Watson. This injection of experience will be welcome as Shay Lane is not the easiest of venues on the road. However the Seasiders came away from Bradford last season with a narrow 13-10 win thanks to a try from former-YDO Tom Chadwick and an injury-time drop-goal from skipper Tom Ratcliffe; Kiwi Anthony Coffee added five points with the boot. Scarborough completed the double with a 26-10 win at Silver Royd.

GRAHAM HOGG RETURNS FOLLOWING CONCUSSION

Bradford Salem are one place below 8^th placed Scarborough in Yorkshire One having won two of their six league outings so far this season. However none of those have been at home with success coming at North Ribblesdale (14-7) on the 24^th of September and last week at Heath where they won 28-21. The Seasiders will hope their contingent returning from injury will give them the edge to keep the west Yorkshiremen waiting for their first home win of the season.

TOM FISH IN ACTION FOR THE VIKINGS

Elsewhere the Vikings who had a resounding 27-0 win on the road, and the  Danesmen are in action against Hullionians at Silver Royd and Brantingham Park respectively. All senior games kick-off at 3pm tomorrow.

THE VALKRYIES IN ACTION AGAINST HARROGATE

The Valkryies won their first home game of the season against Harrogate last Sunday. Tries from Claire Wilkinson and Mel Halstead who added eight points with the boot saw the Silver Royd women to a narrow 18-14 win following a close-fought game. They’re next in action on Sunday the 30^th against Morpeth; more on that one next week.