Sam Dawson and Billy Parker in action at Huddersfield yesterday
North One East is a league populated by big, fit and in many cases semi-pro sides. Injuries to Drew Govier and Joe Marshall in the first ten minutes of the game at Huddersfield yesterday caused the reshuffle of a team already rejigged because one player was unavailable and highlighted the lack of numbers to cope with unavailability and injury.
The Arrival of French prop Alexis Core and ex-Whitby second row Luke Brown has eased the problem; however experienced wing Harry Domett has retired and as of next week Jonty Holloway will have departed for university. In addition first team flyhalf Tom Harrison was seriously injured on the first day of the season. So that’s last season’s first choice wingers and stand-off having to be replaced out of already depleted resources.
Simon Smith has done a magnificent job and his charges have made a terrific start to the season; with a modicum of luck they could be sitting on top of the league today. However if it is possible as an amateur club, the size of the squad needs desperately to be increased to cope with a long season and the physicality with which the game is played at this level.
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