It is a Warwickshire derby for the Nuns this weekend as they welcome 13th placed Newbold RFC to Liberty Way. The game is due to go ahead on the STADIUM Pitch but there will be a 9am pitch inspection. If the pitch is deemed unfit then the game will move to the Number 1 pitch.

The Nuns come into he game on the back of a very good 52-19 win last weekend over Longton. The first half was where the game was won with the Nuns scoring 6 tries playing into a stiff breeze. Longton were a large side and in the second half they kept the ball tight for periods of play without really threatening the line but did restrict the hosts to only two more tries in the last 10 minutes. This weekend’s fixture will be another tough encounter, Newbold will bring a large pack affectionately known as “The Pudding Club’ but they also have some dangerous runners in the backs. Many players from both sides are known to each other from playing with and against each other over the years.

When the two sides met back in September the Nuns won 18-14 in a game which kick started their season having lost the first 3 rounds. They are currently on a run of 4 wins in the last 5 games and lie 7th in the league on 42 points. Newbold have picked up 2 wins so far, both in September, but have picked up 5 losing bonus points which is a league high and so the game will be tight until the end.

A big thank you goes to the Full Match Sponsor – Stuart Gibson Solutions who are sponsoring the Match, Match Ball, Man of the Match and Mascot.

Also, thanks to Jonathan Collett for also sponsoring a Match Ball

The Saxons are also at home action against Newbold 2s and will be looking to carry on some good form from last week. They eventually went down 33-17 to Luctonians but after a few late cry-offs and playing with 16 men they put in an excellent performance but tired against a well organised squad. When they took on Newbold earlier in the season they won 23-17. The Saxons currently lie 7th in the league and Newbold 10th.

Team news: there is one personnel change and a couple of positional switches in the pack. Apo Satala is unavailable and so Callum Grant-Smith moves to the flank and Todd Bullions to 8 with Ryan Leake getting his first league start after outings in the County Cup and off the bench recently.

The backline is the same as last weekend.

Squad to play Newbold RFC, Stadium pitch 2.15pm:

Nuneaton	Position	Position Sponsor
Ben Holmes	1	Mark Gardner
Ryan Leake	2	Brent Masser
Jon Pateman	3	Ian Holt
Matt Gibbs	4
Scott Makepeace	5
Rudi Reid	6	Mark Mitchell
Callum Grant-Smith	7	Allan Taylor
Todd Bullions	8	Paul Griffiths
Tom Smitham	9	Paul Mitchell Home Improvements
Rory Vowles	10	Alibone/Carter
Richard Johnston	11	Andy Marshall, InControl Gas Services
Tim Douglas	12	Craig Dutton
Elliott Brown	13	Andy Baber
Jackson Hughes	14
Ben Kirby	15	Adam Jones
Josh Greatrix	16
Tom Aherne	17
Huw Thomas	18

You can sponsor a position for £150 for the season, please contact sponsorship@nuneatonrugby.co.uk for more information.

Saxons V Newbold home, 2:15pm:

Ed Taplin, Joji Volaikisuva, Adam Ross, Sam Greening, Chris Smith, Sam Wallis, Oli Moreton, Arron Skyrme, Adie Hall, Harris Carter, Matt Guilfoyle, Marcus Holt, Ryan Southall, Moses Liwaliwa, Aidan Rose, Adam Stauvers, Connor Franklin, Nick Edwards, Simao Van Zeller
Reserve - Jack Grubb, Lewis Wilson, Liam Moore

Midlands Premier – Round Up

Week 15 - 6th January

Birmingham & Solihull continue to dominate the league with their latest win over Bridgnorth. Peterborough Lions kept up the pressure with a home win. Newport easily beat Newbold. Sandbach continued their good home form beating Derby as did Scunthorpe beating Bournville. Nuns scored 8 tries against Longton. Lichfield beat the winless Old Halesonians.

Week 16 - 13th January

Birmingham & Solihull (1) go to Derby (8) and should win. Peterborough Lions (2) won’t have it all their own way at Lichfield (9.) Newport (Salop) (3) have won their last 4 games and should have the better of Scunthorpe (6). Doncaster Phoenix (4) have won their last 4 home games and Sandbach (5) aren’t the best travellers. Nuns (7) are on a good run and Newbold (13) will not stop them. Bridgnorth (10) at home will be too strong for Bournville (11). Longton (12) will bully Old Halesonians (14) to their 16th defeat of the season.

Anchorman

Week 16 Fixtures

Bridgnorth V Bournville
Derby V Birmingham/Solihull
Doncaster Phoenix V Sandbach
Lichfield V Peterborough Lions
Longton V Old Halesonians
Newport V Scunthorpe
Nuneaton V Newbold