The Nuns travel up the M1 tomorrow to take on Sheffield RFC. Last season Sheffield were relegated from National 2 North having won the play off for coming runners up in Midlands Premier in 2016/17, pipping the Nuns to second by 2 points. That season it was honours even with both teams winning their home games. This year Sheffield have a record of 4 home wins and 4 away losses and so the Nuns face a tough challenge. They also have the second-best defensive record in the league so far with 133 points conceded in 8 games. From their 8 games they have 18 points which is 3 less than the Nuns and so sit in 10th position with the Nuns in 6th.

Both teams come in to the game on the back of defeats with Sheffield going down 31-20 at Newport and the Nuns losing out to top of the table Scunthorpe 24-17. The Nuns will be looking to eradicate mistakes that have let recent fixtures and score lines get away from them. They have shown up well in attack but need to keep a greater respect for the ball when in possession.

The Saxons will be looking to get back into the winning habit having lost their last few games. Tomorrow sees Towcestrians visit who have a similar record of 4 defeats and 2 wins this season with the Saxons having 5 defeats and 2 wins. They have been struggling with injuries of late in key positions but hopefully things can start to turn around with a couple of players returning to fitness.

The Colts were due to play Kenilworth tomorrow, but they have postponed the game. Last weekend they won 19-0 at Newbold to keep up their strong form with just one defeat so far this season.

The club will also be showing the International rugby on the TVs with England taking on South Africa at 3pm.

Team news: there is just one change in the forwards this week with Arron Turner coming in for Dave Melville who is carry a few niggles. Turner will pack down in the second row with Wills Messum moving into the back row.

Two changes in the backline see Tom Smitham and Huw Thomas swap roles and Sion Cowdy comes in for Richard Johnston with Jackson Hughes moving to full back.

Squad to play Sheffield RFC, away 2.15pm:

Nuneaton	Position	Position Sponsor
James Redman	1	Mark Gardner
Ryan Leake	2	Brent Masser
Sam Greening	3	Ian Holt
Sam Wallis	4
Arron Turner	5	Glyn Williams
Wills Messum	6	Mark Mitchell
Callum Grant-Smith	7	Allan Taylor
Leigh Thompson	8
Tom Smitham	9	Paul Mitchell Home Improvements
Ben Cooper	10	Alibone/Carter
Nemani Rayabo	11	James Fletcher
Moses Liwaliwa	12	Andy Kearns
Elliott Brown	13	Andy Webb
Sion Cowdy	14
Jackson Hughes	15	Adam Jones
Ben Holmes	16
Arron Skyrme	17
Huw Thomas	18

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

Saxons squad to play Towcestrians 2s home, 2.15pm:

Phil Ryan, Elliott Norman, John Graham, Ryan Makepeace, Elliot Lucas, Ryan Evans, Lewis Wilson, Jake Arms, Chris Smith, Adie Hall, Olly Moreton, Danny Southall, Tom Leeson, Ricky Hughes, Richard Johnston, Tiernan Kelly, Simao Van Zeller, Ben Gilbert, Connor Franklin, Lewis Wrigley

Midlands Premier - Preview and Week 9

Week 8 – 26/27 October

In the Friday night game Derby surprisingly lost at home to Burton. Scunthorpe stayed top after a narrow win over the Nuns. Newport (Salop) regained second after beating Sheffield. Bridgnorth slipped to third - losing at Lichfield. Luctonians easily beat Bournville. Broadstreet had a good win at Doncaster Phoenix. Sandbach had a comfortable win over Syston

Week 9 – 3 November

Scunthorpe (1) should be good enough to beat Sandbach (8). Newport (Salop) (2) travel to Bournville (9) and I am sweet on a win for the Chocolate Men. Bridgnorth (3) v Luctonians (4) should be a tight affair. I’ll go with the home side. Broadstreet (5) to outscore Lichfield (7). Nuneaton (6) go to Sheffield (10) and I expect an entertaining affair which the Nuns might edge. There are 2 basement battles. Burton (11) v Doncaster Phoenix (13) and Syston (14) v Derby (12). Wins for Burton and Derby.

Anchorman