South Shields will be hoping to get back to winning ways this weekend

South Shields host Ashington tomorrow looking to banish bad memories from last weekend's heavy defeat at Sunderland.
Dan McKay faces a late fitness test.Dan McKay faces a late fitness test.
Dan McKay faces a late fitness test.

The Hedworth Hall sponsored side were convincingly beaten at Ashbrooke and will look to get back to the form that saw them climb the DN2 table during November.

Ashington, who beat Shields back in September and are currently two places above the hosts, will be high in confidence despite losing 38-20 at Whitley Bay Rockcliff last weekend and will fancy their chances.

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South Shields are still without influential captain Clayton Fox and No8 Martin Bengston.

However, Shields will welcome back Matty Chaganis, who will add real fitness and steal to the back row.

Alex Wylie could also make a return to the squad.

Second row Dan McKay faces a late call after picking up a hamstring injury last time out, while Mark Walker is set to return in the No9 position.

Alex Welland will captain the side once again and could return to the centre after playing in the back row for the past couple of weeks.

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Carlos Mut Morei and Matty Soroka are both still unavailable, but Matty Thornton could make a return from illness that ruled him out last week.

Kick off is 2.15pm at the South Tyneside College.

South Shields Mariners are also in action this weekend when they travel to Ashington tomorrow to face their second string in the River Blyth league.

Kick off is also at 2.15pm. The ground can be found at NE63 8TP.

l Tom Catterick makes his first appearance of the season tonight when Newcastle Falcons continue their European Challenge Cup campaign away to Lyon.

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The 26-year-old, who has featured in a total of 101 competitive games for the Falcons, starts at full-back in a side showing 12 changes from the one which defeated Harlequins on Sunday.

David Wilson, Alex Tait and Fred Burdon are the three survivors from that team, the latter captaining the Falcons in the first of back-to-back fixtures against a Lyon side currently placed third-bottom in the French Top 14.

Lyon and the Falcons sit tied on five points after two rounds of Challenge Cup action after one win and one defeat – unbeaten Ospreys topping the standings after beating both teams.