Our first experience of the Papa Johns Cup has been a strange one - drawn away to Meds who entered the tournament but gave us a walkover. Round 2 we had arguably our best performance of the season in a 68-0 demolition of Wigton.

We believe we are the only Northumberland side still playing after hearing Percy Park have chosen to not honour the second leg of their fixtures vs Cleckheaton despite holding a marginal lead.

Despite all of our efforts we still have not got a home game. In Round 3 we head back to Sunderland for our third fixture of the season. Last time out we lost 10-12 at home despite dominating in spells - in the away game in September we lost 14-20. So despite Sunderland's unbeaten league campaign head to head both games have been about small margins.

Sunderland have moved the game to Hill View Playing Fields (SR2 9EH) due to cricket at Ashbrooke - although cheekily, we did say we were happy to host.

There are some forced changes to the squad as Jeremy Hunt, Sol Mak, Tom Westgarth, Seb Shilling and Max Cook are all unavailable. However, we may consider the weeks group perhaps stronger as Tom Taylor comes back into the front row, Darren Kelly into the second row and Simeon Archibald is back on the bench.

Sunderland is a huge challenge but we feel the biggest challenge is trying to keep 15 men on the pitch. In our two fixtures I think we had had one red card and at least four yellows if not five. There were some comical scenes in the first game with one passage of play being 15 v 12 ! If we are able to go toe to toe in a 15 a side game we believe that we are more than capable of causing what would be a huge upset.

As stated Taylor comes back into the fray alongside Sion Gittins who was outstanding last weekend after returning to the group. At tighthead is David Medjigbodo-Lawson who was a corner stone in dominating Wigton's scrum last week.

Jonny Allton has been almost ever present in the boiler room and is joined by Darren Kelly - a talisman for our side as an energiser.

The back row remains the same - thankfully, after all three were outstanding last week. George Bambrick will look to once again get turnovers, Rob Baldwin to carry between the 15's and Dylan Gittins rounding off the trio. Gittins was outstanding last week, punching holes all over the pitch as well as linking well with the backs.

Rhys Merlane at 9 and Josh Farley at 10 dominated territory last week and we will need the same again to put pressure on the clear league winners. Farley's kicking will be key as Sunderland's 15 is a huge counter attacking threat. However, his kicking last week was nothing short of amazing.

Against Wigton our centres were far too strong in the pairing of Michael Searle and cup run Captain, Ben Jubb. They will want to dominate the gain line exchanges against a decent Sunderland centre pairing.

Out wide last week Sam Cleife was lethal - making line breaks and finishing off two tries. Lewis Chater jumps on the other wing and is also in fine form after scoring last week. The fifteen is completed by the clubs all time leading try scorer in Sam Busby. At times last week he was untouchable with dazzling footwork, scoring two tries and getting a couple of assists.

Whilst we thought last week was the strongest side we have put out all season, there is definitely an argument that this squad is just as good and perhaps more experienced.

Amazing to have front row regular Ant McQuillin on the bench and even better to see Morgan Scrace who completed 20-30 mins last week, after completing his rehab from knee surgery.

Crazy to have two back rowers on the bench of the ability of Louis Matthews and Simeon Archibald. Matthews has recently returned to area, recommitting to the club for next season and enjoying the end of season cup run.

The squad is complete with Brandon Gilbert taking the final shirt. It was also great to see Gilbert complete 30 mins last week after recently returning from traveling. No one will bring more energy than him when he gets off the bench and into the action.

Some squad assembled as we try to continue our season with a win over the league champs. Surely they have won enough games this season and will not mind us having a go at trying to compete for silverware of our own.

Hope to see you al up the top of the hill on Saturday.

On Sunday it is Morpeth 7's with a two spaces still free if anyone fancies helping us out on getting through back to back fixtures Saturday and Sunday. Games start at 1200 in what is a well organised, very social tournament.

Up the Vos !