Team news for the weekend - Nuns away at 2nd in the league, Saxons at home

It promises to be another stern test for the Nuns this weekend as they travel to Shropshire to take on 2nd placed Newport, who are just 1 point behind leader Scunthorpe on 61 points. They have a record of 12 wins and 4 losses and also have the highest amount of try bonus points (12) in the league. One of those losses was at the hands of the Nuns when the two sides met back in September. The Nuns were 33-22 winners that day having also done the double over them last season two. Newport put away a spirited Syston last weekend 35-24 whilst the Nuns went down to Luctonians 33-28 conceding a try in the last play of the match to be denied a draw.

Although defeated there were again positives for the Nuns in their performance and continued the good form of late. A draw would have probably been a fair result in what was a good advert of rugby for the neutral. The players have again been hard on the training pitch this week to fine tune things and get back into a winning habit as soon as possible.

The Saxons entertain Newport at home and will be hoping to improve in last week’s performance at Luctonians. It was a spirited showing from the players, who ended up traveling with 16, and after leading 7-5 ran out of steam second half with a couple of injuries and a yellow card going down 31-7. Newport 2s have been up and down this season but have defeated the Saxons twice, if a strong squad can be put together and perform to their ability a positive result is in the offing.

The Colts are without a game this weekend but last week got themselves back to winning ways after dispatching Leamington 49-20.

Team news: the squad sees a couple of changes in the backs and forwards this week. Up front Wills Messum picked up a concussion last week and so will be out for a couple of weeks, Adie Hall moves up from the bench to the second row. Dave Melville is unavailable and so Arron Skyrme comes on to the flank.

In the backline Elliott Brown picked up a shoulder injury last week Theo Knight is unavailable Elliot Norman and Adam Stauvers comes in.

Tom Aherne returns to the squad for the first time since the opening weekend having picked up a shoulder injury, Lewis Wrigley also comes onto the bench.

Squad to play Newport RFC, away 2:15pm:

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Saxons v Newport, Number 1 Pitch 2:15pm: Ryan Evans, Nick Smith, Oli Moreton, Kieran Hey, Adam Ross, Chris Smith, Liam Moore, George Wallis, Lewis Wilson, Tom Leeson, Connor Franklin, Manasa Volaikisuva, Ricky Hughes, Ben Gilbert, Matt Guilfoyle, Brendan Tait, Jamie Nicholson

Midlands Premier Round Up

Week 16 - 12 January 2019

Scunthorpe kept their noses in front with a win over Doncaster Phoenix. Newport duly beat Syston. Bridgnorth couldn’t hold off the challenge from Broadstreet. Nuns were beaten by the last play of the game against Luctonians. Sheffield beat Derby in a low scoring affair (10-3). Lichfield scored 29 points and lost at Sandbach. Bournville broke their 8-match losing run beating Burton.

Week 17 - 19 January 2019

Scunthorpe (1st) go to Lichfield (9) and will win although I expect a close game. Newport (2) can expect a battle with the visiting Nuns (7) and I’ll go for an away win. Bridgnorth (3) should be too strong for Burton (11). Luctonians (4) to beat Sandbach (8) who have only one away win all season. Broadstreet (5) are unbeaten in their last 5 games and Syston (14) won’t stop that run. Sheffield (6) to take the win at Doncaster Phoenix (13). Derby (10) to stop Bournville (12) from winning two games in a row.

Anchorman