Preston Grasshoppers make another important home appearance on Saturday when Darlington Mowden Park visit Lightfoot Green Lane. Hoppers head into this fixture looking to rebound from recent narrow defeats — including a 37–42 loss to Tynedale and a 34–19 defeat at Wharfedale — where performances have shown promise but haven’t yet delivered the points the squad feels it deserves.

Darlington Mowden Park come into the weekend as one of the stronger sides in the division. Despite a 19-31 loss at home to Hull Ionians last week, recent results show they’ve picked up solid wins, including a convincing 54–26 victory away at Rossendale and a 24–17 home win over Wharfedale, underlining their depth and consistency this season. The league table shows Mowden Park sit comfortably above Hoppers in the standings, establishing themselves as contenders in the top half.

The reverse fixture earlier in the season at The Darlington Arena was a high-scoring encounter, with Darlington Mowden Park running out 57–35 winners. It was a tough afternoon for Hoppers, but also one that showed they can get among the tries and compete with the league’s more potent attacking sides.

For Preston Grasshoppers this weekend, there’s plenty to be positive about. The attacking shape and intensity shown in recent matches suggest the platform is there; what’s needed now is to convert that into points and build upward momentum. Playing at home, with supporters behind them, offers a perfect stage to do just that. Darlington Mowden Park will be a stern test, but if Hoppers can tighten up in key moments — particularly defensively and in discipline — they’ll be right in the contest. A big performance here could be just the spark this group is searching for.

MATCH PROGRAMME

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