This coming Saturday will see Dearne Valley RUFC 1st XV travel to Norton Playing Fields in a top of the table clash against local side Sheffield Medics.

Unfortunately, Dearne haven't seen any league action since their away victory against Hessle on 28th September due to a scheduled week off then their home fixture against Knottingley last weekend unfortunately being cancelled due to the opposition being unable to field a team.

As has become a regular theme, Dearne still have a long list of players still unavailable for this weekend’s fixture as the coaches continue to deal with a wide array of long term injuries. Archie Adams (appendix), Will Adams (wrist), and Jacob Bradder (shoulder) are all regular first XV players currently out of action, whilst Jonny Horrobin is currently serving week three of his four week ban for a red card against Hessle last time out.

Captain Todd Bailey and second row Alex Baxter are abroad due to work commitments whilst Club Captain Andrew Thorpe and flanker Corey Cox are on holiday. Loosehead Adam Cooke is in France and Luke Christmas has work commitments. Regular full back Sam Oxley is running a marathon and top try scorer Jacob Mangham has prior engagements... This week has truly demonstrated the joy of amateur rugby and resulted in a big selection headache for our coaching team!

The positive news is that this Saturday will hopefully see a return to the field for last season’s Player of The Year and top try scorer Sam Holt. Sam was scheduled to make his return last weekend against Knottingley however the cancellation of said fixture meant he has had to wait a week longer than expected.

Also on the bench are three players who will be hoping to make their club debut; Daniel Cribbis, new signing Corey Hurley, and Zach Braham. Braham enjoyed a successful and impressive pre-season with Dearne but has since been absent due to work commitments and he will be excited to pull on the black jersey for the first time alongside his new team mates. Corey Hurley has made the switch over from Hemsworth RUFC following a frustrating start to the season due to a lack of game time and is excited to get started with a new challenge at Dearne Valley.

"Our selection process seems to get more difficult week by week! Whenever my phone rings lately with another player telling me they can't play I think they are on the wind up!" said Director of Rugby, Callum Emery.

"This weekend, with the changes we have made and should everyone take to the field, will result in over 32 players out of our 47 man squad all having played their part in one of our opening league fixtures which shows the depth of talent we now have."

"I'm particularly excited to see Bailey Woods start his first game of the season at loosehead, a position he made his own last season, as well as Brad Parker get his first start at full-back following an impressive cameo from the bench against Hessle. I’m also excited to see how the three new guys making their debut go off the bench and they will have an incredibly important role to play in the late stages of the game against what we know will be an incredibly fit Sheffield Medics side".

He continued, "The fixture getting cancelled last week was incredibly frustrating and the 1st XV have had a much longer break than we initially wanted, but it is ultimately out of our control so the boys will just need to be ready to get back out there on Saturday against Medics who will no doubt they will be looking to close the gap at the top of the table".

STARTING XV

1. Woods

2. Moore

3. Hamilton

4. Young

5. Williams

6. Kenney

7. Higgins

8. Hartley (C)

9. Roebuck (VC)

10. Shaw

11. Robinson

12. Mason

13. Kite

14. Duggan

15. Parker

FINISHERS

16. Mincher

17. Cribbis*

18. Hurley*

19. Braham*

20. Holt