Luke Foster, Tom Dias, Pete Twentyman, Callum Anderson, Carl Ferguson, Tom Taylor, Alex Cokeley, Louis Matthews, Christian Selkirk, Tom Brown, Shaun Stewart, Brandon Gilbert, Sam Bird, Tim Hart, Lewis Chater, Jonny McSorley, Sion Gittins, Isaac Robinson

The boys will need to have bottled the spirit and energy they showed to upset Guisborough if they wish to go back to back. Hartlepool sit in 8th place just eight points above us so a win would bring us within a result of them. The league is incredibly congested with only six points between 3rd and 8th.

The front row is unchanged as we resist starting Jonny McSorley who returned from injury. Luke Foster keeps his place alongside Tom Dias and Pete Twentyman after a couple of great performances. His inclusion has definitely lifted our energy and team spirit.

Carl Ferguson comes back in - one of only three changes to the squad that beat Guisborough. Carl has had an incredible start to his first season at Novos with some outstanding ball carrying and off loading.

There is a sense of mobility in the pack as we have essentially picked six back rowers in the starting eight. Callum Anderson keeps his place after an outstanding display in his last run out. The back row is full of energy and competitiveness as Tom Taylor comes in at 6, Alex Cokeley keeps his shirt after showing real physicality and Louis Matthews switches to 8.

We have gone for Christian Selkirk at Tom Brown at 9 and 10 in the hope that they put us in the right positions of the field. The centre pairing of Brandon Gilbert and Sam Bird will look to win the gain line battle to release Tim Hart, Shaun Stewart and Lewis Chater.

The bench include Jonny McSorley who will relish taking on a big Hartlepool pack, Sion Gittins to cover the back row and Isaac Robinson who has been excellent over the last two games.

2nd xv vs Gateshead 1245 meet, 1400 kick off
Jack Wilson, Ant McQuillan, Tom Bathgate, Dave Thompson, Jonny Allton, Rich Zabrocki, Sully Ismail, Josh Hood, Ollie Towe, Jamie Malone, Greg Wills, Ed Thompson, James Bass, Ethan Longhurst, Will Evans, James Forbes, Ian Wood, Ian Ramsay, Jonny Lowes

Always a great fixture as last 3-4 games against Gateshead have been incredibly tight.

Looking forward to getting back and hearing about the scrum battle with Jack Wilson and new lad Tom Bathgate hopefully thriving. Some talented youngsters in the back row with Sully Ismail and Josh Hood standing out in their first season for the club.

We look dangerous out wide with the inclusion of Ollie Towe at 9, Greg Wills having second game back from injury and Ethan Longhurst on the wing, also in his first season with us.

A lot of games in December with three sides needed every week. So it will be all hands on deck so please get in touch if you can help out.

Dec 3rd - Horden (h) Duram City (a) Blaydon (h)
Dec 10th - Medicals (a) Medicals (a) Tynedale (h)
Dec 17th - Rockcliff (a) Berwick (h) Rockcliff (a)

A busy festive period ahead - Up the Vos !