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Billingham v Old Crossleyans: Quartet miss tough trip
OLD Crossleyans will be without player-coach Chris Jones, centres Neil Richardson and Jack Hammond and No 8 Manny Riaz for what looks their toughest test of the season tomorrow away to a Billingham side who have taken North One East by storm so far.
Hugely influential No 10 Jones suffered badly bruised ribs in a typically whole-hearted effort in defeat by Sandal last week and centre Richardson came off after taking a knee in the back midway through the first half.
Hammond and Riaz are unavailable.
Gareth Ott has the difficult task of replacing Jones while Ryan Hammond switches from the back row to partner experienced Chris Seymour at centre with Joe Baker playing fullback.
Richard Thomas joins his brother Mark and Rob Oliver in the back row while Kevin McGill returns from injury to partner Chris Wood at lock.
Billingham gave Old Brodleians the roughest of baptisms to rugby at this level with a 66-0 win on the opening day of the season and have won their eight league games since, scoring 443 points and conceding only 90.
Crocs are experienced campaigners at this level but head north on the back of successive defeats against Pontefract and second-placed Sandal.
Billingham, who apparently possess a couple of deadly centres, were surprisingly pushed to retain their flawless record at lowly Morpeth, where they came out on top by 18-17.
Crocs will be looking to their very capable front five to again step up to the mark and give them some control.
They will also be hoping promising scrum half Ed Cockroft, who has been somewhat erratic lately, can have a solid game.
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
