After finishing 3rd last season and being relegated from the division above the year before, expectations are that Blaydon will be one of the main competitors for promotion this year. They have certainly started well averaging 49 points scored in the first of their three games this season. Two home wins and a narrow away loss leave them third in the League while Wirral sit 12th after their draw away at Lymm last week.
Last season saw Wirral lose both games to the club based at Crow Trees, West of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Despite being dominant for most of the game Wirral eventually lost the away fixture 29-24. The fixture at the Memorial Ground last year was a comprehensive victory for Blaydon 20-55 after Wirral held a half-time lead but the boys from the North West ran away with it in the final 20 minutes.
A slow start at their only away fixture so far this year resulted in a 33-31 loss to Blackburn for Blaydon two weeks ago and Wirral will be hoping that the long journey for the opposition will enable them to capitalise early as Blaydon have a tendency to finish games strongly. For Wirral the draw at Lymm last week was a disappointment and Head Coach Simon Verbickas will be impressing upon the team that they must cut out the individual errors that cost them in the last two games and play for the whole 80 minutes against what is undoubtedly one of the strongest sides in the League.
Kick off is at 3.00pm for what is likely to be a high-scoring and entertaining game where Wirral will be keen to show they can compete against the best in the League.