Manor Park RFC

Park have not tasted defeat in league action at their Griff and Coton ground since Pinley returned home victorious in January 2011.

The most recent success came in a “home walk over” victory over Rugby Welsh and subsequent postponements means the visit of Old Wheats will be Park’s 1st XV's first match for a month.

Under the guidance of former head coach Nick Bishop and current incumbent Lee Maddison, ten times opponents have tried and failed to secure victory on a pitch famed for its “bomb hole corner”.

“It’s an outstanding achievement that I as coach and the players should be extremely proud of,” said Maddison.

“Everyone thinks it’s easy to win games at home but it’s just as difficult as playing an away game most weeks as the level of opposition has improved massively over the last few years and venue becomes almost a level playing field for both teams because of that.

“Having said that our “Bomb Hole Corner” and steep slope is feared by many a team when they come here so it has its advantages playing on our patch, and obviously the support on the side lines we get week in week out is exceptional and encourages us to maintain our record at home.”

Visitors Old Wheats are second in Midlands 4 West South and travel with confidence after winning the reverse fixture 35-11 in October.

However, Park will be buoyed by the knowledge it was at the Griff and Coton where table toppers Ledbury suffered their only defeat of the season to date.

Maddison, added: “We want to keep it running for as long as we can and make this a fortress where people fear to visit.

“I’m sure Old Wheats will not be looking forward to playing us on our turf after we gave a very good account of ourselves at their place when they were playing at the top of their game.

“By all accounts they are not playing as well as they were at the start of the season at the minute so we have nothing to fear and will be looking to take the win and push us up the league to try and catch them.

“But they are a good team and we will need to be on top form to achieve our goal of winning.

“We are capable the lads just need to realise it and believe in themselves. ”

Park’s seconds are also at home, playing Sutton Coldfield III at the Nuneaton Academy while the thirds are away at Pinley.