The Nuns will hope to beat an early morning pitch inspection and then look to take on Sandbach tomorrow afternoon as they look to get back to winning ways having suffered two defeats and a draw in the last three games. The opposition have all been in the top 4 and Sandbach come to Liberty Way in 6th position, 2 places and 3 points better off than the Nuns.

When the two sides met earlier in the season Sandbach won 15-12 but the Nuns know that this was a game that could have had a different outcome and they will be hoping to gain revenge this weekend. Both teams come into the match on the back of defeats. Whilst the Nuns took a heavy loss at league leaders Birmingham/Solihull last week (47-14), Sandbach probably had the shock result of the season going down 17-14 at Old Hales who hadn’t won a league game all season. The Nuns will fully expect a back lash from the Cheshire boys this week in response to that result.

The Saxons don’t have a game this weekend and went down 24-10 last week at Birmingham/Solihull.

Saturday also sees the end of the 6 Nations with all games being shown in the club house all afternoon plus there will be live Music at 7pm from local band Black Fly.

Team news: Dan Oselton comes in at hooker for Ryan Leake with Rudi Reid and Sam Greening packing down in the second row. Adie Hall returns in the back row. From last week’s pack Ryan Leake, Tom Aherne, Arron Turner and Arron Skyrme are all ruled out with injuries joining Matt Gibbs, Josh Greatrix, Dave Melville, George Wallis, Apo Satala and Danny Southall on the injured list.

Changes at half backs and in the back three see Manasa Volaikisuva at scrum half and Huw Thomas moving to fly half. Nick Edwards will make his first team debut at full back and Adam Stauvers comes onto the wing.

The bench is made up of Adam Ross, Tom Leeson who will make his debut and Ryan Southall.

Comparing the squad that played Sandbach earlier in the season, only three forwards who started that game play this weekend with a whole different backline being used.

Squad to play Sandbach RFC, away 3pm:

Nuneaton	Position	Position Sponsor
Ben Holmes	1	Mark Gardner
Dan Oselton	2	Brent Masser
Jon Pateman	3	Ian Holt
Sam Greening	4
Rudi Reid	5
Todd Bullions	6	Mark Mitchell
Callum Grant-Smith	7	Allan Taylor
Adie Hall	8	Paul Griffiths
Manasa Volaikisuva	9	Paul Mitchell Home Improvements
Huw Thomas	10	Alibone/Carter
Richard Johnston	11	Andy Marshall, InControl Gas Services
Moses Liwaliwa	12	Craig Dutton
Elliott Brown	13	Andy Baber
Adam Stauvers	14
Nick Edwards	15	Adam Jones
Adam Ross	16
Tom Leeson	17
Ryan Southall	18

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

Midlands Premier – Round Up

Week 21 - 3 March

All games were postponed due to bad weather.

Week 22 - 10 March

Birmingham & Solihull strengthened their hold on the top spot with a 47-14 win over the Nuns. Peterborough Lions had an important win over Scunthorpe to enhance their playoff chances. Newport (Salop) beat Bournville. Shock result of the week/season Sandbach lost to Old Halesonians. Another upset saw Bridgnorth lose at Newbold. Doncaster Phoenix edged out a gutsy Lichfield. Longton had a good win over Derby.

Catch up Week No.3 - 17 March

Only 6 fixtures this week. Birmingham & Solihull (1) face a Doncaster Phoenix (5) side capable of an upset. Peterborough Lions (2) will make no mistake against Old Halesonians (14) who had their first win of the season last week. Sandbach (6) visit the Nuns (8) and will go home disappointed. Bridgnorth (7), at home, will be too good for Longton (12). Derby (9) will have a close win over Lichfield (11). Bournville (10) might be surprised by an in-form Newbold (13). Scunthorpe (4) and Newport (Salop) (3) have a rest from the action.

Anchorman

Fixtures

Friday – Bournville V Newbold

Saturday

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