Three sides out again but numbers are tight for the first time this season. So if you have nothing to do on Saturday stick your hand up to play. Would love to know how many sides we could put out in a perfect world with the 1's squad down 5 men, 2's squad down 13 men and the 3's squad with 20 blokes unavailable for selection !

That being said we are incredibly blessed with numbers and quality, especially at the top end as in comes Morgan Scrace, Jonny Allton, Ben Rodgers and Ben Jubb to the first team. In addition, Josh Farley who was an unused sub last week comes into the starting fifteen.

Naturally, we hope the weather holds out for the game to go ahead. However, muddy conditions will close the gap between the two sides. With Novos sitting in first place and Hartlepool down in 10th place. The home side will be happy to see the weather close in after their scrum beat us up last season - just so much heavier than us.

With one eye on the weather we go with what we think is our best scrum in Tom Taylor, Sion Gittins and Morgan Scrace. In behind them are our biggest second rows - Jonny Cotterill and Jonny Allton. They will be tasked with making sure we win our own ball. In the meantime, Owen Hayton, George Bambrick and Rob Baldwin will have the job of stealing ball or putting in big hits to win it back.

The backs look formidable but with some combinations still developing. Rhys Merlane and Sam Evans had their first game together last week and should be better for it. Both got on the score sheet and pulled the strings. Evans on debut looked as good as we had hoped.

Back to our usual centre pairing as Captain Ben Jubb returns from a rest week to partner Michael Searle. Once again this pushes in form Harry Tankard onto the left wing. Sam Busby rolls back the years to the right wing as we opt for Josh Farley at fifteen. He and Sam Evans will be tasked with sitting either side of the ruck and kicking territory on what is expected to be a heavy pitch.

Our finishers are Ben Rodgers who covers all three front row positions, Louis Matthews who will be desperate to get involved in the physical exchanges and Sam Cleife. Incredible that a hat trick last week has only managed to get him the 18 shirt. Such is the depth in our back line at the moment.

Throwback Thursday info from club historian Chris Ward -

Hartlepool is one of seven different clubs from the area that Novos have face in our history. The oponent competed as Hartlepool Old Boys until 1978.
Last time out saw a strong away performance in a 31-18 win. Try scorers on the day Rob Baldwin with two, Sam Cleife two and a penalty try. Michael Searle kicking two conversions.
Head to Head - Played 48, Won 30 and 1 Draw with a 62.5% win percentage.
First Encounter - an Oct 1927 loss 5-11 away
First Win - xmas eve 1927, a dominant 25-3 win

2's vs Alnwick
Last time out we lost 12-24 away from home
Last win was in Oct 2023, a 45-31 home win in the #2 cup

3's vs Tynedale Centurions
Last time out we lost 57-7 away back in October of this year
Last win was Nov 2024, a 29-19 away victory

1's to play Hartlepool (a) 1400 kick off, 1130 meet at Vos for lifts
Tom Taylor, Sion Gittins, Morgan Scrace, Jonny Cotterill, Jonny Allton, Owen Hayton, George Bambrick, Rob Baldwin, Rhys Merlane, Sam Evans (league debut) Harry Tankard, Michael Searle, Ben Jubb, Sam Busby, Josh Farley, Ben Rodgers, Louis Matthews, Sam Cleife

2's to play Alnwick (a) 1400 kick off, 1130 meet at Vos for lifts
Johnny McSorley, Ant McQuillin, David Medjigbodo-Lawson, Ross Radford, Jez Hunt, Josh Smith, Dylan Mills, Dan Morosan, Cameron Wallace, Matthew Russell, Adam Lambert, Ewan Dryden, Harvey Gadsden, Ross Cleminson, Max Cook, Nathan Tizard (2's debut) Ben Trotter (2's debut)

3's to play Tynedale (h) 1400 kick off, 1245 meet at Vos
Andrew Robson, Ian Wood, Vuyo Nossa-Yabantu, Owen Blackburn, Tom Storey, Jack Hutt, Tom Granville (3's debut) Stewart Wilson, Christian Selkirk, Alfie Bowman, Mark Hemmings, Lex Leonard, James Bass, Adam Longstaff, Tim Hart, Michael Scott, Evan Dare, James White (club debut)

Up the Vos !