It is the half way stage of the season tomorrow as we welcome 6th placed Derby to Liberty Way. Both teams come into the game on the back of defeats, the Nuns going down 34-20 last week at Bridgnorth and Derby lost 23-19 at home to Newport. Derby have picked up 2 more wins (7) and 2 more bonus points (10) than the Nuns this season to sit on 38 points. The Nuns took both wins last season with a 34-31 win at home and 48-35 away.

Last weekend’s defeat at Bridgnorth was another performance that had positive and negative aspects to it and the hosts know that they need to be as consistent as possible in their execution to try and put a run of performances together in the build-up to the New Year.
The Saxons went down in a friendly to Birmingham/Solihull last week 31-19. The game started brightly with the forwards showing plenty of early dominance but the game went to uncontested scrums after 15 minutes which aided the visitors cause. This week they are in league action away to Derby.

Team news: there are a couple of changes in the starting pack with Scott Makepeace unavailable and Apo Satala nursing a hand injury. Arron Turner and Todd Bullions come in respectively.

In the backs Tyler Price (illness) and Richard Johnston (neck) are out with Harry Garforth and Ollie Kitto coming in.

Squad to play Derby RFC, Number 1 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
Arron Turner	5
Rudi Reid	6	Mark Mitchell
Danny Southall	7	Allan Taylor
Todd Bullions	8	Paul Griffiths
Tom Smitham	9	Paul Mitchell Home Improvements
Rory Vowles	10	Alibone/Carter
Ollie Kitto	11	Andy Marshall, InControl Gas Services
Tim Douglas	12	Craig Dutton
Elliott Brown	13	Andy Baber
Jackson Hughes	14
Harry Garforth	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 Derby, Away:

Ryan Leake, Sam Greening, Adam Ross, Joji Volaikisuva, Chris Smith, Tom Leeson, Luke Braddow, Oli Moreton, Jake Waddingham, Liam Moore, Josh Harrison, Manasa Volaikisuva, Connor Franklin, Adam Stauvers, Lewis Wrigley, Tiernan Kelly, Ryan Southall

Midlands Premier – Round Up

Week 12 - 2nd December

Birmingham & Solihull made it 12 straight wins and look destined for automatic promotion. Scunthorpe had a home win over high flying Sandbach. Newport (Salop) had a good away win at Derby. Doncaster Phoenix won a close high scoring game against Newbold. Nuns went down at Bridgnorth. Bournville ended a four-match losing run, beating Old Halesonians. Lichfield lost by 3 points to Longton.

Week 13 – 9th December

The halfway mark of the season and Birmingham & Solihull (1) won’t have it all their own way at Sandbach (4). Newport (Salop) (2) have a tough looking game against Doncaster Phoenix (5) but will win. Peterborough Lions (3) have an easier looking game against Bournville (9). Derby (6) come to Liberty Way and the Nuns (10) will need to find their best form if they are to win. Scunthorpe (7) have a long trip to Longton (11) and will do well to come away with anything. Bridgnorth (8) go to the winless Old Halesonians (14) and although it is the season of goodwill, OH won’t break their duck. Lichfield (12) have one away win all season (?) and I can’t see them improving on that record at Newbold (13).

Anchorman

Week 13 Fixtures

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