Scarborough and Brid set for Shield derby battle

The men from Dukes Park reached this stage in the competition via a first round 41-3 victory over Yorkshire Two side Roundhegians and a home walkover given by Keighley in the second round.

Skipper Tom Ratcliffe’s men had a bye in the first round and were 22-12 winners at Barnsley in the second.

Earlier in the season they came away from Dukes Park with a Yorkshire One win; Bridlington scrum-half Ollie Stephenson scored a couple of first-half tries but tries either side of the break from Ratcliffe settled matters at 24-16; however it was a close-fought encounter throughout.

Having surrendered a 24-7 half-time lead to lose 26-24 at Middlesbrough, the Seasiders lost the services of Harry Domett and Tomasz Chadwick, sent off and injured respectively in the same game.

Since then bonus-point wins over North Ribblesdale and Pontefract at Silver Royd and wins at Old Brods and Heath on the road plus last week’s 10-10 draw at Wath sees coach Lee Douglas’ charges on a run of good form which they’ll look to continue against their east coast rivals on Saturday.

Brid have won two of their last five games both at home; against Hullensians 13-10 at the end of November and last week’s 28-11 success against North Ribblesdale.

Success has for the most part eluded them away from the coast where they have won only once; 30-23 at Pontefract on the September 27.

Most of the foregoing could well go out of the window as both teams contest what is always a keenly-fought and feisty local derby.

Lee Douglas has selected 14 players from his starting line-up last week; Taylor Smith who was sent off at Wath is replaced by youngster Hayden Ogilvie in the back row whilst prop Jesse Macdonald is joined on the bench by former Bridlington player Martin Robinson with two further substitutes to be named on the day.

Good news for Douglas and the Scarborough faithful came last week when Eamon Chapman, who was controversially sent off in injury-time against Pontefract, had his red card rescinded following a disciplinary hearing.

The Aussie back row, who has been outstanding since arriving at Silver Royd, was made man of the match after last week’s 10-10 draw at Wath and plays on Saturday.