Market Rasen and Louth RFC return with Melton test

The First XV will play for the first time in three weeks when they entertain Melton Mowbray at Willingham Road (kick-off 2.15pm) as the Midlands One East season resumes.

The Red and Greens were enjoying a rich vein of form before the lengthy mid-season break, chalking up six wins in their last eight, a run which could have been even better had it not been for a one-point defeat at Wellingborough last time out.

The sequence has lifted them up to ninth in the table and just a bonus-point win behind fifth-placed Huntingdon.

To improve further they must avenge a heavy 27-5 defeat suffered in Leicestershire in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Yet Rasen will fancy their chances against Melton who have lost all six of their away trips this season - in contrast to a 100 per cent winning record at home.