Mowden are wary

After comfortably beating Stockton 36-5 last Saturday to reach tomorrow's final at Durham City's Hollow Drift ground, the former West Hartlepool forward was an interested spectator during Westoe's 25-14 semi-final victory over Blaydon.

Despite the South Shields-based club being two divisions below Mowden, Whitehead believes his side face a very tough match in their pursuit of silverware.

"They have a big, strong pack and a lot of pace out wide," he said. "We will certainly need to be on top of our game to beat them. I know we are favourites, but we can't afford to be complacent."

Mowden will be without winger Matt Howland, who picked up a knee injury during the semi-final, and blind-side flanker Tony Irwin, who is attending a friend's wedding.

Meanwhile, Westoe chairman John Tighe believes his side's lightning quick backs can have the same destructive impact against Mowden tomorrow as they did against Blaydon on Wednesday night.

"If we can get enough ball we know we can hurt them," he said.

"We have a huge amount of respect for Mowden; their forward line is very strong and they are two divisions above us. But we are not just there to make up the numbers; we are confident we can win."

However, Westoe will be without Vince Bell and young lock Raim Elliott, who both picked up mouth injuries in midweek.

Elliott, 18, had to have four stitches put in his mouth after taking a blow to the face, while fly half Bell has been advised not to play by his dentist after receiving a heavy blow to his jaw.

Meanwhile, Hartlepool Rovers skipper Neil Winn is relishing the prospect of his side going into today's promotion play-off with York as underdogs.

York, Yorkshire One runners-up, will start favourites for the match which will decide who plays in North Two East next season. But after guiding Rovers to second place in Durham Northumberland Division One, the 36-year-old prop is optimistic about his club's chances.