ACADEMY PROVIDES CURTAIN RAISER
he match-up between the two sides comes a day ahead of the seniors Championship clash at Otley where the Falcons will be hoping to move a step closer to securing a play-off spot with victory over their Yorkshire counterparts.
A side packed with talent from across the region including Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Borders has been assembled for this mid-table encounter.
“There is a healthy rivalry between ourselves and Leeds, and we’ll be looking to build on last week’s excellent performance at Gloucester,” said academy manager Mark Laycock.
He added: “I think a few of the Falcons first team lads are planning on popping down after their training session which just epitomises the team spirit at the club at the moment.”
**Newcastle Falcons:** 15 Tom Penny (RGS Newcastle/Alnwick RFC/Northumberland), 14 Sean Brown (Mowden Park RFC/Durham), 13 Tom Small (Hartlepool 6th Form/Billingham RFC/Durham), 12 Luke Wilson (Hartlepool 6th Form/Billingham RFC/Durham), 11 Zach Kibirige (Yarm School/Blaydon RFC/Durham), 10 Craig Willis (Durham School/Durham), 9 Ollie Warner (Gosforth Academy/Berwick RFC/Northumberland), 1 Dan Elkington (Sedbergh School/Cumbria), 2 Ben Wilkinson (Gosforth Academy/Percy Park RFC/Northumberland), 3 Jake Taylor (St Peters School/Yorkshire), 4 Glen Young (Jed Forest RFC/Borders), 5 George Hedgley (Giggleswick School/Wharfedale RFC/Yorkshire), 6 Oli Hodgson (Gosforth Academy/Middlesbrough RFC/Durham), 7 Stuart Cannon (Gosforth Academy/Percy Park/Northumberland), 8 Nick Cairns (Prudhoe High School/Tynedale RFC/Northumberland)
**Replacements:** 16 Curtis Fletcher (Hartlepool 6th Form/Billingham RFC/Durham), 17 Aston Whitlow (Gosforth Academy/Alnwick RFC/Northumberland), 18 Callum Sheldon (Queen Elizabeth School Kirkby Lonsdale/Kirkby Lonsdale RFC/Cumbria), 19 George Innes (Ampleforth College/Yorkshire), 20 Jon Coser (Barnard Castle School/Durham), 21 George Jirka Lacina (Dame Allans School/Gateshead RFC/Northumberland), 22 Eldon Myers (Hartlepool 6th Form/Billingham RFC/Durham), 23 Jack Blakeney-Edwards (Durham School/Cumbria)
