The Nuns return to Stadium Pitch action this weekend as they host 2nd placed Peterborough Lions at the start of a run of 4 fixtures against teams in the top 5. First up are the Lions and the Nuns will be looking for revenge after suffering a 41-18 loss earlier in the season. The game was on a knife edge for an hour with the Nuns trailing just 22-13 but conceded a couple of late tries. Both Peterborough and the Nuns have been on winning streaks since the start of December with Lions last defeat against Birmingham/Solihull and Nuneaton's at Bridgnorth.

Last time out the Nuns saw off basement side Old Hales 50-10 whilst the Lions defeated 3rd placed Newport 22-3 which has strengthened their hold on 2nd place. Both teams had a weekend off last week which is sure to have given both squads opportunities to rest bodies after a busy January.

Last weekend the Saxons took on Derby in the league cup and were defeated 25-17 in a very spirited game in terrible conditions. This weekend they take on Banbury in the league, a win and other results going their way could see them move up to 3rd.

Team news: Ben Holmes returns to action after a head knock at loose head prop and Scott Makepeace comes back into the second row with Ryan Leake and Tom Aherne moving to the bench.

In the backline Tom Smitham is out with an ankle injury picked up at Old Hales and Richard Johnston is unavailable and so Huw Thomas and Ryan Southall come in to start.

The bench is made up off Ryan Leake, Tom Aherne and Adie Hall.

Squad to play Peterborough Lions RFC, STADIUM PITCH 2.15pm:

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

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

Saxons V Old Hales 2s Home 2:15pm:

Ed Taplin, Joji Volaikisuva, Sam Greening, Phil Ryan, Elliot Norman, Chris Smith, Ben Higgens, Oli Moreton, Tom Leeson, Liam Moore, Lewis Wilson, Arron Skyrme, Monasa Volaikisuva, Jake Waddingham, Aidan Rose, Adam Stauvers, Connor Franklin, Tiarnan Kelly, Nick Edwards

Midlands Premier - Round Up

Week 19 - 3 February

Birmingham & Solihull shut out Longton 22-0. Peterborough Lions saw off the challenge of Newport (Salop) and consolidated second place. Doncaster Phoenix lost at Bridgnorth. Sandbach surprisingly lost at home to the battling Newbold. Scunthorpe beat the disappointing Derby. Nuns beat Old Halesonians by forty points. Bournville had a home win over Lichfield.

Catch up Week No. 1 - 10 February

Just 4 games in this the first catch up week and a first defeat of the season for Birmingham & Solihull at Sandbach. Scunthorpe won away at Longton and Doncaster Phoenix conceded 64 points at Newport. Old Halesonians lost 77-5 at home to Bridgnorth.

Week 20 - 17 February

Birmingham & Solihull (1) still have a 5-point advantage at the top and should win at Newbold (13). Peterborough Lions (2) visit the Nuns (6) and defeat for the home side will end their outside chance of promotion. Newport (Salop) (3) should beat Sandbach (5). Scunthorpe (4) will have no trouble at Old Halesonians (14). Despite some recent poor results, Doncaster Phoenix (7) should be too good for Derby (9). Bridgnorth (8) go to Lichfield (11) and will be too strong. Bournville (10) are not good travellers and Longton have a poor home record - possibly a draw!

Anchorman

Week 20 Fixtures

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