Scarborough have to rediscover their intensity for tomorrow’s Middlesbrough clash.

last week’s MAN OF THE MATCH Ben Martin in action against Wheatley Hills  PHOTO: ANDY STANDING

In my CAMPBELL’S COMMENT following the YORK game I wrote   ‘if Simon Smith’s charges can maintain the intensity shown in this game AND steer clear of further serious injury, I really see no reason why a play-off place shouldn’t be within their sights.’ Unfortunately influential fly-half Tom Harrison broke a finger in that game and is absent for a second extended period.  Tom is having his best season at the club and I think is pivotal to the fluid, running rugby Coach Simon Smith wants to see his charges play.  I believe he may be out for a further three weeks but nevertheless the side is full of exciting and skilled players who as a group have excelled in this campaign. 

Scarborough and Middlesbrough last met at Acklam Park in early October and  Simon Smith’s men came away with a 40-22 bonus-point win running in six tries in the process. The game which was in no way a dirty one ended with two red cards for Scarborough and one for Middlesbrough who scored two tries in the final eight minutes against a visiting team which by then had only twelve men on the paddock, Jordi Wakeham having been sin-binned!

I was ill and unable to attend the 21-21 draw at Bradford last week but from Simon’s column in the SCARBOROUGH NEWS it sounded as if the Seasiders failed to rise to the occasion and play to their undoubted potential. This middle period of the season is absolutely vital and having reported on all but a couple of games this season, I’m convinced the players will up the ante and  look to play with the intensity shown against York against Middlesbrough tomorrow.