Westoe wait on their walking wounded
THE walking wounded of already casualty-hit Westoe means the side to confront visitors Kendal tomorrow will not be finalised until shortly before the kick-off.
Inside centre David Haswell, a vital cog, is expected to be sidelined for a couple of months after fracturing his elbow early in the splendid 25-18 victory at Hull on Saturday.
Also excluded because of injury are his younger brother and versatile back Graeme (cracked rib), flying winger Chris Clark (hamstring), number 8 John Dye (damaged calf), and flanker Ryan Foster, who, having recovered from a head blow that saw him being stretchered off unconscious during the game against Harrogate a month ago, tore a hamstring in training.
Several others are carrying lesser injuries, and only after a late fitness assessment will the line-up be announced.
Director of rugby Andy Howells has warned that such is the extra intensity in National 2 North, injuries are more likely to occur than in North One from which the Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Shieldsmen were promoted as champions.
Captain Gareth Nesbit, though, believes the fighting qualities displayed by a reshuffled side which came away from Humberside with five points will enable his team to rise to the occasion.
He declared: "One thing that no Westoe side has lacked in recent years is spirit. And such is the calibre of the squad that whatever team we field will be a strong one.
"It is a long season and inevitably there will be injuries. There is competition for a place and at least these casualties give other players an opportunity to showcase their ability.
"The chance to play rugby at National level is a very big incentive for ambitious players in the club to strive for."
There will be an added incentive for his side to win tomorrow in front of a home crowd, as their only other victory was also on their travels against Loughborough Students,
So far the Wood Terrace faithful have seen Westoe's almost year-long all-win record torpedoed by Harrogate and then, because of a dire defensive lapse, a 32-31 win virtually handed to Preston Grasshoppers.
Said Nes: "Of course we want to win at home, not only because we must gather as many points as possible there, but also to reward those whose support has meant so much to us in recent years.
"However, we have shown that if we play to our potential, we can win away from home. The important thing now is to string a few good results together."
Likely to make his first appearance at Wood Terrace is tight head prop Matthew Shields, an England Under-18 international, who made his debut from the bench in the first game at Caldy, but then picked up an injury playing for the Newcastle Falcons Academy side.
Also included in the provisional 20-man line-up are lock Ian Robinson and flanker Hayden Richards.
Fellow back row man Aaron Myers should be in fine trim after spending the week training with the England Sevens squad at the Lensbury Club in London.
Kendal, with two wins and a draw, are 11th in the 16-team table, two points and one place ahead of Westoe.
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Weather for South Shields
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
