BELLE VUE COLTS make their fourth attempt to visit the ECCO Arena, when they face Middlesbrough in the National Development League on Sunday afternoon (12pm).
The JR Ashworth & Sons Colts were originally scheduled to meet Middlesbrough back on August 30, but that meeting and its subsequent rearranged date both fell foul of the weather.
A third attempt had to be cancelled on Friday after the BSN Cup Final between Poole and Redcar was rescheduled for the same night, causing a clash of fixtures for the Redcar/Middlesbrough management and staff.
Colts joint team boss Graham Goodwin said: “This meeting has been a bit of a nightmare to arrange.
“With Redcar in both of the cup finals and the play-offs, it’s been tricky for Middlesbrough to find a date for us.
“Also from our point of view we’ve had Will Cairns and Freddy Hodder both heavily involved in the end-of-season play-offs for their championship clubs Poole and Glasgow.
“At least with this late re-staging, we have both Will and Freddy back with us, as we look to finish off the season with a couple of good performances, firstly against Middlesbrough, and then in our last meeting at Leicester on Wednesday.
“Although, typical of our luck this season, we can’t finish with a full team.
“Jack Kingston has come down with a virus and Covid-like symptoms, which have prevented him from attending Saturday’s Maugers awards night and travelling on to Middlesbrough on Sunday.
“It’s a shame to be missing Jack, as he has fitted in really well after being a late addition to the side at the eleventh hour back in March. “We will operate rider replacement in his place, and we know the lads will give it their best to cover for him.”
Teams:
Middlesbrough Tigers: Ace Pijper, Elliot Kelly, Stene Pijper, Ryan Ingram (G), Tom Spencer, Seth Norman (G), Charlie Southwick.
Belle Vue JR Ashworth & Sons Colts: William Cairns, Jack Shimelt. Jack Kingston R/R, Mason Watson, Freddy Hodder, Harry Fletcher, Billy Budd.