Stourbridge Saxons depleted for trip

Stourbridge Saxons make the lengthy trip north to Blaydon on Saturday for what will be their first match in nearly a month.

But director of rugby Neil Mitchell faces some tricky selection issues with a number of key players out of the equation.

Prop Tim Pickard is at a wedding, scrum-half Tommy Richardson is also unavailable due to work commitments and centre Tom Jarvis has been suffering from a virus.

Mitchell said: "We will have a few holes to fill that's for sure. We had hoped to have Mike Hill at tight-head but he is injured so we do have problems."

Stourbridge's front row worries mean Adam Sturdy is set to play his first game of the season following surgery on his knee.

The long-serving Saxons favourite is destined to start the match with Will Davis moving to tight-head.

Mitchell said: "In an ideal world we would have given 'Sturds' a few minutes at the end of the game, but we don't have that luxury.

"We also have problems elsewhere in the pack with James Freeman tweaking a disc in training and James Rodley missing training due to an ankle injury.

"But it is the same for other clubs and it is likely to get harder. We have games every week now until the end of the season."

Stourbridge signed off for Christmas with an excellent 27-23 win at title-chasing Cambridge.

But conditions are going to be tricky up in the North East with heavy rain forecast ahead of Saturday's game.