Match Preview

This weekend the 1xv take on table toppers Horden and Peterlee who will confirm promotion and the title with a win.

Currently on 88 points with 18 wins and only 2 losses all season Horden will come as favourites for this one.

The last time the two sides met in January, Horden had a comfortable win by 72-12 with Shields fielding a much changed and weakened team.

This weekend Shields field a more consistent team that’s put in some good performances away to DMP and Redcar recently.

Three 17 year olds will be involved in the Shields team tomorrow, Robbie Turnbull and Callum Walker keeping their shirts after some encouraging performances being joined by Shay Henny who’s impressed in the 2xv.

Shields have another half a dozen promising youngsters on top of these three that we’ll be preparing for next season over the summer.

With Second bottom Whitby having away games to promotion chasing Ashington and Darlington and a tough home game against Barnard Castle - Shields look like they’ve done enough to stay up. We’re 10 points clear of Whitby with an away game against bottom of the table Seaham remaining. Not that that will be easy, it never is.

The lads will go out and play without any fear tomorrow. Hopefully it’s an entertaining game to end our home campaign this season.