Visitors Middlesbrough start the day in 10th place, just five points behind us in 8th (the last non-relegation play-off place), they sit five points clear of York in the higher automatic relegation place.

Like us Middlesbrough joined the League this year. They did it through promotion, despite winning twenty of their twenty-two games last season, and getting losing bonus points in both their losses, they ended the season on the same points as Northern (who won the same number of games with two more try scoring bonus points)

Also like us they have found this season tougher, with four wins, York (away) and against us; Penrith and Ckeckheaton at home, the first three with Try Scoring bonus points; they also have try scoring bonus points in losses at Harrogate; Sandal plus a double bonus point loss at Blaydon. Last weekend they picked up another Try Scoring bonus point scoring 36 points despite conceding 73 points at Ilkley

In the game earlier this season Middlesbrough won 47v34, our score being 1 point less that the highest number of points scored when losing away (Rossendale in 2012/13) and equal to Esher (2002/03); Leicester Lions (2010/11); Otley (2011/12); Wilmslow (2018/19) – worryingly only one of these (2010/11), wasn’t in a season which ended in relegation.

Last week our team showed again that they can raise their game against the League’s top teams (with losing bonus points against three of the top four), but have recently come up just short of the teams we need to take points off, to avoid an extra game (or worse). An end of season with a visit from Harrogate, and trips to Driffield and Heath, means we need all the points we can get in the bag before then.

TEAM :

Just the one change to last weekend's squad with Johnny Swallow on an all forward bench in place of Ben Cakebread (who plays for the 2nds this weekend)

A few swaps with Andy Rogers and Patrick Wolstenholme starting and Joe Anderson and Alistair Thompson on the bench.

The wings and second row swap shirts ?

Four new names in Middlesbrough team compared with the one that defeated us earlier in the season, one of that team moves to the bench with two more new names

WEATHER :
Despite being Ladies Day, which has often been met with wild weather (or was that just Pocklington, where the only thing that was Dry at the end of the afternoon was the bar) only a 70% chance of "light" rain

OTHER GAMES

Starting with a tough one. Harrogate, visit Driffield who have only lost at home twice (Penrith and Heath) with the season highlight being a narrow win over Alnwick. Harrogate’s big win, and Alnwick less than convincing win at Mint Bridge last week, mean the gap between the two teams is just two points with Ilkley three points behind Harrogate, so the visitors need a win to keep up a push for the home play-off place, but I am going for a Home win, for one of the few teams with little to play for.

After Heath scored 115 against Penrith whilst Cleckheaton conceded 82 against Harrogate, this could be a long afternoon for the League’s bottom team.

Ilkely have only lost at home to Alnwick (Harrogate and Heath are their final visitors), so although Blaydon have done well on the road, Ilkley will need this one in case the two above slip up to continue a push for a end of season Play-Off

Which Sandal – and which Alnwick team turn up ? If Sandal play like they did in the first half a fortnight ago, there may be a dent in Alnwick’s promotion push – but as they showed last week, Alnwick have a knack of winning (or getting close when they don’t) so going for an away win.

Can Penrith bounce back after their massive loss at Heath last weekend ? York also lost to Sandal. A Penrith loss will mean whatever the result at Mint Bridge will be bad news for them, as a Middlesbrough win could see then go above Penrith, whilst a win for us would widen the gap – with the big League game at Penrith a fortnight away (could we end up playing them four times this season ?). A win for York and a loss for Middlesbrough could see York move out of the bottom two . Going for a Home win.

SECOND XV :
Playing Kirkby Lonsdale (2) at Mint Bridge 7.30pm on FRIDAY night

Like Saturday 50:50 on whether the weather will be wet

Team

After two weeks with the First XV bench Ben Cakebread is back in the centre, with Luke Cutbertson moving to the wing and Cameron Stevenson to the bench. Dan Greenwood returns at outside half.

Upfront Luke Middleton and Evan Beatie swap places

Jake D'Arcy returns on the bench.

WASPS :
Have a week off before the big game against Sefton the team immediately above them in the League

SENIOR COLTS :
After a Away walkover against Newcastle last week, are back in action at Mint Bridge against Liverpool Collegiate at 2.00pm

The visitors are in 2nd with 6 wins from 8 (and I think the other 2 were walkovers over Christmas), last weekend defeating bottom team (without a win) Fylde 43v26.

SIX NATIONS PREDICTIONS
You can't have missed Dave's adverts but just in case the 6 Nations are on the Horizon, so the clock is ticking loudly for the closing of predictions to Dave by next WEDNESDAY.

All a bit of fun, it is as much about beat the "experts", as winning.

Also raises a bit of cash for a Good Cause (the Supporters Club therefore team welfare)

The best investment of £5 since your last visit to No.8.