Field shuffle pack for a long journey South
HUDDERSFIELD RU are reshuffling their resources as they bid for a first-ever win at South Leicester in National 2 North.
Front rowers Harry Whitfield and Fran Entressengle are rested by head coach Gareth Lewis, while vicecaptain Lewis Bradley, pacy back Lewis Workman and scrum-half Jack Maplesden drop to the bench.
Burly James Davies is recalled at centre alongside Will Milner, while Joe Green will play at scrum-half alongside Chris Johnson for the first time following the hard-fought 15-10 win over Stourbridge at Lockwood Park.
Field are third in the table while South Leicester are third from bottom, and Lewis knows that while his team have some tough matches coming up, they can’t afford to relax in any way at Welford Road – where they have never won.
Both previous visits have been defeats and, on each occasion, the hosts have scored more than 40 points.
Lewis’s men are looking to change that. They had another away-day duck to break when they went to Macclesfield earlier in the season and came back with the win, so this is a team with confidence to get the job done.
South, in their centenary year, have just three wins so far and the last was six games ago against the bottom side Peterborough Lions. Field are Hinckley ....................................... Otley ............................................... Fylde .............................................. Sedgley Park ............................. Wharfedale ................................ Preston Grasshoppers ....... Stourbridge ............................... Sheffield Tigers ...................... Tynedale ...................................... Leicester Lions ........................ South Leicester ...................... Macclesfield .............................. Peterborough Lions ............. trailing second-placed outings. “The squad we have for Saturday is very strong and I expect Chester by just the lads to make the most of the four points. opportunities. There is absolutely
“The big zero complacency, we are extremely games will motivated and aiming to win at come thick Welford Road for the first time.” and fast over The forward pack remains strong the next despite changes, with versatile Ross month, so it is Thornton set to come in at hooker important we for Entressengle. use the squad depth,” said Lewis, Guy Borrowdale is in at lock with whose team have eight wins from 11 Matt Dunn, and Nick Sharpe returns 0 3 306 251 0 4 241 232 0 5 324 257 0 5 325 287 0 5 284 261 0 7 297 302 0 6 307 297 1 6 302 280 1 6 318 324 1 7 263 288 1 7 273 360 0 9 198 393 0 10 163 362 to the back row alongside Liam Parfitt. Lewis says his side are in good shape.
“It’s been another good week’s training after a very physical battle against Stourbridge,” he explained.
“As a group we’ve identified some key areas to improve on and we are looking for a good performance.”
Tom Hodson, Kian Stewart, James Davies, Will Milner, Elliot Knight, Chris Johnson, Joe Green; Reuben Pollard, Ross Thornton, Alex Battye, Matt Dunn, Guy Borrowdale, Nick Sharpe, Liam Parfitt, Dickie Piper(C). Replacements: Adam Blades, Mark Chivers, Lewis Bradley, Jack Maplesden, Lewis Workman