The Nuns welcome table toppers Northampton Old Scouts to Liberty Way this weekend in what looks to be a real Christmas Cracker. The visitors have been in impressive form and have picked up 10 wins and a draw from their 11 games to date and currently have 52 points. Last weekend they saw off Towcestrians 66-8 on Friday evening. They also have a game to catch up with against 3rd placed Market Harborough that fell victim of the frost two weeks ago. The Nuns defeated Warwickshire rivals 43-5 last weekend which kept them in 4th position on 49 points.

When the sides met earlier in the season it was a tight affair with the Nuns going down 28-27 and had the chance to take the win but struck the post with a penalty kick last play of the game. If the Nuns can maintain their good home form of late then this could allow them to claw ground on the top 3 going into the Christmas break. 3 points currently separate the top 4 with all still having each other to play at least one more time this season.

The Saxons away game to Syston has had to be re-scheduled after some late injury pull outs. Last week they were under pressure throughout the game and unfortunately came away on the wrong end of a 99-0 defeat to National League Bournville 2s. It was a much changed squad and thanks must go to the players who stepped up from the Saracens and who also supported the squad from Manor Park.

The Colts were due to be away to Old Northamptonians in a friendly game but the hosts have had to pull out. Last weekend’s league game with Old Leamingtonians ended in a hard fought 36-34 win.

Team news: there is just one change to the starting line up and one on the bench this week. Rudi Reid returns to the squad after a period out at lock in place of Nick Walton who is unavailable. Toby Dearden is also unavailable but Ben Holmes returns on the bench.
Tomorrow will be the last game for Stewart Davies as he has been re-stationed back in Portsmouth and so he and his family will be moving on. He has added plenty to the side this season and has contributed 5 tries in 11 appearances.

Squad to play Northampton Old Scouts RFC, Number 1 pitch 2.15pm:

1 James Redman*
2 Augy Clarke
3 Ben Dawes
4 Rudi Reid
5 Tom Aherne*
6 James Lloyd
7 Todd Bullions*
8 Martin Wood
9 Tom Smitham*
10 Lucas Brindley*
11 Travis Bennett-Allcock *
12 Tom Eales
13 Ryan Preston
14 Tak Chawadya
15 Stewart Davies

16 Ben Holmes
17 George Wallis*
18 Max Carter*

*Nuneaton RFC Pathway Players

Regional 2 Midlands East Round 13 Fixtures:

Nuneaton V Northampton Old Scouts
Oadby Wyggestonians V Newbold On Avon
Olney V Market Harborough
Wellingborough V Lutterworth
Towcestrians V Kettering
Peterborough V Leicester Forest

Regional 2 Midlands East Round 12 Results:

Northampton Old Scouts 66-8 Towcestrians
Lutterworth 38-7 Olney
Market Harborough 48-0 Oadby Wyggestonians
Newbold On Avon 5-43 Nuneaton
Kettering 12-3 Peterborough
Leicester Forest 25-31 Wellingborough