The Nuns are back in league action this weekend after a well-earned weekend off when they travel to Leicestershire to take on Syston. Syston currently sit at the foot of the table but the Nuns know that they are a side that can cause any team problems on their day and so concentration in all aspects of the game will be required to pick up a win. Last time out the Nuns put in a clinical and hard fought performance to defeat Sheffield, who at the time were only separated from the Nuns by points difference. A couple of pleasing aspects to come out of that performance were scoring a try when down to 13 men whilst also stopping Sheffield from collecting any match points as bonus points are already counting important for all teams in the league.

When the Nuns hosted Syston earlier in the season they ran out 57-17 in a game that they controlled many aspects but was disrupted by going to passive scrums due to Syston injuries after 30mins. Last time out Syston beat Longton 32-31 and they have won 4 games, drawn 1 and lost 13 but have only picked up 2 bonus points so far compared to Bedford, one place above them, with 16. The Nuns are on 68 with Sheffield on 64, Broadstreet 60 and Birmingham/Solihull 59.

The Saxons have a home league game also against Syston as they look to keep pace with league leaders Hinckley. They went down 15-7 away to Luctonians last weekend in the League Cup Semi Final.

The Saracens are in action away to Spartans 2s and the Colts are away.

Team news: the pack stays the same as the one that started against Sheffield two weeks ago with the only changes involving Adam Woodfield coming onto the bench alongside Rudi Reid. In the backline, Jackson Hughes is fit again and comes back onto the wing for James Weeks and Rob Cook is unavailable and so his place is taken by Joe Wilson, who is returning from injury. Ollie Kitto completes the bench as backs cover, he will make his first team debut having joined the club this season as a student at Coventry University with rugby playing experience with Harlequins Academy and Samurai 7s.

Squad to play Syston RFC, away 2.15pm:

1 Ben Holmes
2 Nick Smith
3 Jon Pateman
4 James Moreton
5 Scott Makepeace
6 Todd Bullions
7 Dave Melville
8 Umraan Dixon-Jadwat
9 Huw Thomas
10 Rory Vowles
11 Tom Smitham
12 Timothy Douglas
13 Richard Johnston
14 Jackson Hughes
15 Joe Wilson

Replacements: Adam Woodfield, Rudi Reid, Ollie Kitto

Saxons V Syston 2nds, Number 1 pitch 2.15pm:

John Graham, James Redman, Sam Greening, Scott Wright, Ben Higgins, Tom Aherne, Llyr Griffiths, Lewis Wilson, Danny Southall, George Wallis, Callum Grant-Smith, Marcus Holt, Brad Darlaston, Lewis Wrigley, James weeks, Ryan Southall, Moses Liwaliwa, Manasa Volaikisuva, Dhillon Taylor

National 3 Midlands – Round-up

Week 18 - 28th January
Nuns maintained their place at the top of N3M after a memorable win over their nearest rivals Sheffield. Broadstreet stay third with a narrow win at Bridgnorth. Birmingham & Solihull beat Derby. Peterborough Lions continued their winning run at Towcestrians. Old Halesonians won at Sandbach. Syston ended a 7-match losing run beating Longton. Lichfield won away at Bedford Athletic.

Re arranged fixture - 4th February

Bridgnorth 8 Towcestrians 10

Week 19 - 11th February

Broadstreet (3rd) v Towcestrians (7th) - “Street” are unbeaten in 7 games. Should be too good for “Tow”.
Derby (8) v Bridgnorth v (11) - After a good start Derby have slipped down the table, but expect them to beat Bridgnorth.
Lichfield (9) v Birmingham & Solihull (4) - Lichfield are capable of pulling off a surprise but not against B & S.
Longton (10) v Bedford Athletic (13) - Bedford have only 1 away win and 5 near misses. Longton to win.
Syston (14) v Nuneaton (1) - It’s never easy at Syston, but Nuns will win.
Old Halesonians (6) v Sheffield (2) - Interesting, gut says Old Hales, head says Sheffield – Sheffield to edge it.
Peterborough Lions (5) v Sandbach (12) - Lions are on a good run, Bach are in a relegation battle. Home win.

Anchorman