CHRIS PURDY TAKES A CLEAN LINEOUT CATCH AGAINST YORK
Picture JENNY BROWN WOOD
DAVE CAMPBELL
Following last week’s disappointing result when Scarborough surrendered a 21-3 lead to lose 21-24 to York in the final quarter of their North One East game at Silver Royd, the Seasiders are on the road at Durham City on Saturday.
Coach Simon Smith’s charges are still without the services of No8 Ben Martin and centre Aaron Wilson both unable to play due to concussion protocols following head injuries; the former having missed the last three games and the latter the last two. Prop Nino Cutino was injured early in the game against York and Australian tight-head prop Benny Blackall will make his club debut as the front-row replacement on the bench. Veteran lock forward Phil Watson is unavailable and Will Leah joins Luke Brown in the second row; Chris Purdy starts at No8 and Jordan Holloway and veteran Phil Stewart join Blackall on the bench.
Durham City finished second in Durham/Northumberland Division One (DND1) at the end of season 2017-18 and should have played Scarborough in the play-off game between the runners-up in Yorkshire One and DND1. Unbelievably they refused to play the game on the date specified by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and forfeited promotion; however they went on to win DND1 as champions last season and were promoted North One East.
‘City’ have had a mixed start to the season winning three and losing four games of their seven so far. On their own patch their results have been somewhat erratic and have included the 62-10 thrashing of Pocklington and a 43-27 defeat by Driffield; last week they lost 38-17 at Cleckheaton.
If you want to travel to Durham to support Drew and his men a free coach will leave Silver Royd at 11am on Saturday. If you can’t travel, the Vikings are in action at Silver Royd as they take on Marist RUFC; Tom Harrison will return at fly-half for his first appearance since he was injured on the opening day of last season at Bradford & Bingley; also in the Vikings squad for this one are Joe Marshall, Paul Taylor and Toby Welsby. Both first and Vikings games kick-off at 3pm.
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