The Nuns head on the road for the first time this season and like last year, their first away trip is to Doncaster Phoenix. The Phoenix won both games last season, but both were tight affairs and the Nuns picked up losing bonus points in both games. This season the hosts started with a tough away fixture at Newport and having scored two early tries came out losing 67-17. They will be looking to get their season up and running this week, but the Nuns come in to the game on the back of a good 43-25 win over Derby. When the side kept control of the ball last week they scored 6 good tries and could have scored a few more, however when concentration was lost in attack and defence they were punished and so will be looking to maintain standards for longer periods this week to give themselves the best opportunity to win.
Neither the Saxons and Colts have a game this weekend with Bedworth pulling out of a friendly and a scheduled week off for the Colts. Last weekend the Saxons went down 57-41 in an entertaining game at Derby and the re-launched Colts won 71-0 against Barkers Butts.
Team news: two changes in the pack this week see Tom Aherne miss out having picked up a shoulder/collarbone injury last week that could rule him out for at least 6 weeks. Wills Messum comes in for him for his league debut having played County Cup last season. Todd Bullions is unavailable and so Dave Melville comes in at number 8 for him.
In the backline, Ben Cooper comes in for his debut having been unavailable last weekend. He comes straight in for Huw Thomas in an otherwise unchanged back unit.
Squad to play Doncaster Phoenix RFC, away 5pm:
Nuneaton | Position | Position Sponsor |
James Redman | 1 | Mark Gardner |
Dale Bowyer | 2 | Brent Masser |
Sam Greening | 3 | Ian Holt |
Wills Messum | 4 | |
Arron Turner | 5 | |
Arron Skyrme | 6 | Mark Mitchell |
Danny Southall | 7 | Allan Taylor |
Dave Melville | 8 | Paul Griffiths |
Tom Smitham | 9 | Paul Mitchell Home Improvements |
Ben Cooper | 10 | Alibone/Carter |
Sion Cowdy | 11 | James Fletcher |
Dylan Bale | 12 | Andy Kearns |
Elliott Brown | 13 | Andy Webb |
Jackson Hughes | 14 | |
Richard Johnston | 15 | Adam Jones |
Ryan Leake | 16 | |
Sam Wallis | 17 | |
Moses Liwaliwa | 18 |
You can sponsor a position for £150 for the season, please contact sponsorship@nuneatonrugby.co.uk for more information.
Midlands Premier - Preview and Week 1
Week 1 - September 1
Luctonians got off to a storming start, thrashing Lichfield 73-14. Newport (Salop) comfortably beat Doncaster Phoenix and the Nuns scored 6 tries in beating Derby. Scunthorpe beat Broadstreet and Sandbach beat a plucky Burton. Bournville didn’t concede a point in beating Syston. Sheffield surprised a few by defeating Bridgnorth.
Week 2 - September 8
With 5 out 7 correctly predicted last week, not a bad start to the season. Let’s see how we go this week
Luctonians (1) are at home again and will beat Syston (12). Newport (Salop) (2) go to Lichfield (14) and I would expect them to win. The Nuns (3) travel to Doncaster Phoenix (13) for a 5.00pm kick off. It’s a game they must and should win to keep pace with the leaders. Scunthorpe (4) go to Burton (9) and I’ll take a chance on a home win. Sandbach (5) visit Derby (10) and the home side maybe too physical for the silky Cheshire side. Bournville (6) travel to Bridgnorth (8) and this will be a close affair. I just favour the home side. Both Sheffield (7) and Broadstreet (11) lost their opening game - I’ll take Bradstreet’s home advantage to prevail.
Anchorman