Northampton are taking on Bury Titans this Saturday at Rushmills kick off 2:30pm - lets hope the weather improves,
Saturday see's the clash of the "Big Two" sides in the Rugby League Eastern Conference Division when Minor Premiers Northampton hosts Bury Titans for the right to go through to the Rugby League Conference National play-off's. This is a winner takes all battle as the season will end there and then for the losing side whilst the victor will face the North Midland Champions Parkside Hawks in the National Quarter Finals.
Adult coaches Smith and Campbell have been pleased with the application of North's players over the last few weeks and with faces returning from injury competition is fierce for a place in the 17 man squad. The only current injury concern at present is centre Kieran Richards (Foot) whilst Mick Bryant is suspended for this encounter. The return of Dog Like forwards James Davenport / Oli Rees and Fred Braithwaite to the squad will add even extra steel to an already hated and feared Northampton defence whilst in attack giant 18 stone winger Adi Butler and stalwart Wigan born centre Chris Webber are back in contention after holiday excursions.
Fighting for positions on the wings are Adi Butler / Joe Rice / Dan Brotherton and Paul Beckett whilst upfront the return on 17 year old powerhouse Matthew Meek will add to the selection headaches along with Seb Ward / Phil Albutt / Mark Dunkley / Grant Wood and Carl Suidek.
Smith commented "We have a fighting squad of 26 players for these play-offs and only 17 can be selected for Saturday. It's the worst part of my job to tell 9 individuals who have given their all since March that they will not be in this battle. But this is a club rather than a team and with form / injuries over the next month their will definitely be chances for those unlucky ones to prove their worth. I'm hoping the Northampton public can come down and given these lads the support they deserve."
Squad goes from:-
Hulme / Howes / Brotherton / Beckett / Flatt / Richards / Webber / Butler / Rice / Fewster / Johnson / Meek / Ward / Derry © / Albutt / Wood / Suidek / Sanders / Dunkley / Davenport / Hartley / Braithwaite / Rees / Jaznik / Fowler / Hankins
1000 flyers about the fixture are been handed out in the town centre tomorrow. Captain Matthew Derry will be giving some pre-match build up on Radio Northampton on Friday evening whilst the local paper has an excellent preview regarding the game in todays paper.
As said lets hope the dam weather holds off - Summer Rugby - you're having a laugh !!!
Capping the weekend off for all RL buffs in the county and surrounding areas are the Kukri Midlands Semi Finals that take place on the Sunday.
The Northampton under 16's face Nottingham Outlaws at 12.30pm with the under 14's taking on Coventry Bears at 11am. The under 12's are already in the final.
All games take place at Northampton Casuals RFC. See
www.northamptonrl.co.uk for directions
Not been too bad a year for Northampton!!