Agreed...Nash was head and shoulders man of the match in the game v Batley...but they gave it to knockonathon McGilvary off the back of a long range try through shoddy tackling!

THUNDER SQUAD FOR GAME VERSUS DONCASTER:
NEIGHBOUR, PEERS, McALPINE, NASH, SANDERSON, THORMAN, BRANIGHAN, PAYNE, HENDERSON, PARKER, RHYS CLARKE, KNOWLES, RUSSO, RYAN CLARKE, McBRIDE, SCOTT, DACK, WELTON

Looks like Welton is a late call-up to replace Tabua Cakacaka. There is also a doubt over Jason Payne. From yesterdays [url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/rugby-news/gateshead-thunder/2009/04/04/tabua-racing-to-be-fit-for-cup-72703-23311381/North East Evening Chronicle.[/url

I am not very confident about today's game.
Are you?

When they were allowed to play against Batley, they looked very good. When Batley muscled up and made their tackles Gateshead looked average. We need to stifle their half-backs and cut off the supply line to the destructive runners (examples Nash and Knowles). Cakacaka being absent should be a bonus.

What was very noticeable in Thunders game with Batley was that they struggled to cope with the Bulldogs pacy wingers, who as well as looking dangerous on attack also made lots of yards helping the forwards cart the ball out of defence.

I feel it is very much a game which could go either way and the outcome will be dependant on which team applies itself best on the day. We have got to cut out the personal errors which blighted long periods of last weeks game with Leigh and give away very few penalties.