Novos will no doubt be looking forward to another day of rugby this weekend, with two matches for the balcony faithful to observe. At 1pm a 2nd/3rd XV, captained by new 3rd team skipper John Marshall, will take on Ashington 2nds. The starting line up is of yet to TBA, however there are many faces old and new that will be vying to cement their position in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd XV for the upcoming season.

At 3pm the 1st XV tackle Ashington. Novos last played Ashington at the exact same stage of this competition in the summer of 2013, winning 55-28. The try scorers that day were: Bass, Harrison, McCrory(2), Nash, Stewart(2) and J.Ward(2). Ashington last beat Novos however, in the final game of the 2012 season, winning 15-10 at Sutherland Park. It was a tumultuous campaign for both clubs as they both crashed out of Durham/Northumberland 1. Novos were promoted back into DN1 the following season; Ashington are still waiting however.

Novos will welcome back last season's Ladies coach, Ian Moralee this weekend, who has taken over at Ashington as Head Coach. Ian will no doubt expect a tough encounter for his Ash side, but will see the game as a good test before the league campaign , in the hope for a promotion challenge back to DN1.

Pete Twentyman starts at loose head, with Tom Dias at hooker. Novos welcome back Ben Walker into the fold, the regularly assassinated 'trifle faced' veteran, who plays his first competitive Novos game since an away defeat to Guisborough in April 2014. Josh Igoe pats down in the second row, with Chris Ward who will be appearing in his 100th club game for Novos. Fresh faced ex-colt Adam MacDonald impressed in the friendly match last week and will make his 1st team debut starting at blindside flanker. Sean Ramsay starts at open side flanker with club captain Alex Littlefair, at Number Eight.

Novos welcome back Old Hymerian, Billy Porter at scrum half. Old Novo, Lewis Chater, will start at fly half, as the two half backs will no doubt look to build chemistry going into the start of the season. Senior county star Jez Nash lines up in the centre with Old Allanian, Jack Hearn on his 1st team debut. Hearn scored a brace last weekend and will be looking to add to his season tally this Saturday. Ben Wollerton and Haymarket Metro poster boy Jonno Wilkes start on the wing, with Sam Busby finishing off the youthful and exciting back line.

Talkative Cumbrian, Ollie Dearden is on the bench alongisde Shaun Stewart and Dan Whitaker. 1st team debuts also await Toby Tremlett and Cameron Spencer as they hope to make an impact from the bench. Geoff Parkinson's memorial plauqe on the Novos balcony was recently unveiled over the summer; I'm sure he would find it fitting for his grandson, Cameron, to score on his 1st XV debut - so there's no pressure there!

If that isn't enough excitement, there will of course be the debut runs, England v West Indies, South Africa v Argentina and England Women take on New Zealand in the WRWC Final! In addition to this there'll be leftover ale at £1.50 a pint. Come on down to Sutherland Park, it's sure to be a great day!