Match Preview

IIIIIIIITTTTTT'SSSSSS TIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMEEEEE!!!!!

The season is upon us! After a short pre-season it is finally time for the league fixtures to begin for the 2’s and they are starting this season the way they ended the last, away at Sheppey. Players and supporters alike will be hoping for a similar game to the one from a few months ago with over 100 points being scored and the Old Boys coming out on top.

Captain Russ has found himself with a very strong team on paper with players returning to fitness and also having to prove themselves to club coach Andy Miller and show that they are worthy to take the shirt fo someone in the 1st XV.

Stuart Coleman takes his number 1 shirt again but is joined by Paul Mitchell who has been slumming it in the 1st team during pre-season and Ben Randall who has made a change from his usual 9 position to complete the front row. The engine room is quite mighty this week with last seasons top try scorer for the 2s Martin Povey being joined by the Adonis that is Steve Hurdle, Hurdz will be looking to get some good game time in after sitting out last season with injuries and having come down with a nasty case of marriage. Jordan Lynch retains his number 6 in a hotly contested position and is joined on the flanks by club new boy Ashley Bourne, all eyes will be on him as everyone wants to witness the “Ash Smash” that we seen in pre-season! Andy Hinde has moved from the flanks to fill in at 8 while Darrell recovers from a knee injury picked up last week.

Scrum Half this week falls into the capable hands of a Wilson, Charlie to be precise who we are sure will be looking to repeat his multiple try scoring performance from this fixture last year, which was also the last game he played after picking up some of the worst pitch burn I’ve ever seen! Club Chairman Mike Hodge will pull on the 10 and dictate the exciting backs around him for the afternoon, he is in luck too because outside him are two centres that showed real brilliance in their last game together Will McArthur and the gazelle himself Martin Langley! For those watching, if you want a way to spot either of these two it is usually wrapped around an oppositions legs or darting through perplexed defenders on a trip to try town.
The wingers are no slouches either, Joe Wortham who has shown he has a really good rugby head and a great turn of pace in his first few games in the blue and blue is joined by Captain Russell Allen who is giving his neck and ribs a rest from front row rugby after finding out that it is harder than it looks (just bend and push right?). Jamie Edwards has agreed to take some time away from his mirror to look at someone other than himself for a bit and will go into a position he has taken really well to since returning to the club last season at Full Back.

Andy Morris who will be “fresh” off a week long trip to Ibiza sits on the bench and will be looking to come on and make a nuisance of himself in the forwards. Club new boy Harry Ballantyne who is a potential front row player will be offered a chance in the other forward positions and joins Marco who showed last week that just because you haven’t played before doesn’t mean you can’t cut men in half if they dare to run at you down your wing!
There is a rumour that club legend Ayub could be down to make an appearance which would bring another huge impact off the bench and show that it isn’t just Eddie Jones who knows what a “Finisher” is!

As always the club wishes luck to everyone who is pulling on a shirt and with the 1st XV playing Sheppey at home we look forward to celebrating a double win back at home in the 3rd half! Smash it up lads!

Meet time 12:30, Kick, off 15:00.