This weekend the team finally get back up and running in their league campaign after what has seemed like an eternity since their last game against Sheffield Oaks on 2nd December. Originally the squad should of played Sheffield Engineers on the 9th December followed by a friendly on the 16th however a combination of cancellations, bad weather, and the Christmas period has resulted in Dearne not pulling on the jersey for over 5 weeks.

Tomorrow gives the squad an opportunity to shake off the cobwebs as they travel to Wortley RUFC who will no doubt be up for the game and likely fresher and sharper than us due to the fact they seem to have been more active lately. Dearne know they are in for a tough test and will be hoping it doesn't take the lads long to get back up and running.

In the match day squad, usual front rowers Craig Collins and captain Archie Adams are joined by Bailey Woods who is making his first appearance at prop following injuries to Connor Lawford and Ben Myers, along with the unavailability of Jonny Horrobin. John Dudley returns in the second row for the first time since November and is partnering usual starter John Williams. In the back row, Jacob Bradder makes his first start since October following a serious hand injury and is joined by the usual faces of Charlie Higgins and Callum Young.

In the backline Clayton Taylor is making his first start at number 9, in reward for some promising performances off the bench and will be making his first start. Stephen Shaw is at fly half and is joined by the familiar centre partnership of Andrew Thorpe and Ben Hartley. Top try scorer Sam Holt is on the left wing and is joined by Will Hudson on the right, with Sam Oxley continuing his solid run at full-back.

In light of the lack of game time over recent weeks, Dearne have opted for a larger team of finishers in order to try and give people game time. Alongside this, we also expect some players in the starting team to suffer the consequences of over indulgences during the Christmas period and may need replacing quicker than usual! Amongst the finishers, Max Phillips is named and is in line to gain his first appearance for the club.

Head coach, Callum Emery spoke before the game. "I'm excited in the changes we have made with Bailey making his first start at prop whilst Clayton is making his first start at 9 in reward for his speed of ball and accurate passing which he has demonstrated so far off the bench". "We had a review prior to Christmas and an honest chat down at the club and besides the results looking great on paper, our performances both in training and on game day in the final games prior to Christmas did taper off." He continued "we started off the season by setting ourselves really high standards, and when you win successive games on the bounce complacency is bound to creep in so tomorrow the lads need to turn up with the correct mindset and earn the result rather than expecting it to come to them."

The game kicks off at 14:15 at Wortley RUFC, Finkle Street Lane, S35 7DH.

STARTERS
1. Craig Collins
2. Archie Adams (C)
3. Bailey Woods
4. John Williams
5. John Dudley
6. Jacob Bradder
7. Charlie Higgins
8. Callum Young
9. Clayton Taylor
10. Stephen Saw
11. Sam Holt
12. Andrew Thorpe (VC)
13. Ben Hartley
14. Will Hudson
15. Sam Oxley

FINISHERS
16. Alex Mincher
17. Oluwatomiwa Akintokun
18. Joe Patterson
19. Ross Whale
20. Danny Bell
21. Carl Levitt
22. Ash Horrobin
23. Rob Bowling
24. Max Phillips
25. Luke Robinson
26. Jack Duggan