Dale coach Gould to ring changes
ROCHDALE’S first team are at home to St Benedicts this afternoon and find themselves in need of victory against another struggling side in North One West.
After a sound beating at Wilmslow last week, coach Mick Gould will be ringing a couple of changes in the back row.
His hands are tied somewhat though with a lengthy injury list and unavailability, not helped by a broken ankle to Andy Redfern in last week’s match.
Dale have had reasonable success against Cumbrian outfit St Benedicts – who are completely unpredictable – and Dale will be hoping to carry away all the points.
Andrew Foster makes an appearance alongside Gui de Sousa in the second row with a return for Will Birtwell and Mike Candler coming in as flankers to breakdown attacks and secure possession.
Dom Serridge resumes his role at scrum half and Jimmy Flitcroft returns at fullback.
Rochdale find themselves in real danger now and are desperate for some good news from the physio room and points to help them climb the table. There are no easy games in this league and any points gained will be hard fought for.
The new kick off times start this week and all fixtures until next March are 2.15pm.
Three teams at home today and there’s a team building race night at the club afterwards.
T Callaghan, R Ward, H Hill, Gui de Sousa, A Foster, W Birtwell, M Candler R Wadsworth, D Serridge, J Duffy, B Henry, O Coldman, J Schofield, T Townsend, J Flitcroft, J Bradley, J Moran, J Willetts, . The second team are also at home as they entertain Preston Grasshoppers 3rds.
After a free week, they return to action with a tough match. The injury list has filtered through and this team has virtually a new look. There are definite match winners sprinkled throughout the side and the result will be very interesting. Plenty of experience is also a feature.
P Swinden, A O’Brien, B Coulter, S Barlow, A Riddell, G Hornby, J Holt, J Woolfenden, J Warburton, D James, M Buckley, J Mair, Harry Hayes, D Needham, A Tweedale, C Nield, Z Hartley.
The thirds play Clitheroe at home.
Another excellent win for the three’s last week has left them in a buoyant mood.
They will need all of that and plenty of effort to overcome a side that is bottom of the table so will be fighting for all they can get.
A Beresford, J Hill, A Pope, J Godber, P Sipowitz, W Greaves, D Smith, A Smith, J Candler, J Finnegan, E Timlin, A Burleigh, S Campbell, E Baker, J Gillighan, J Spellacy, M Kluwe, K Humphries, S Maguire, C Holcroft, B Chapman.
The fourth team travel to Old Bedians, meet at club at 12.30pm
The fours are the only away team this week and will be looking to keep their impressive run of victories alive as they travel to Didsbury.
They currently lie third in the league, with five wins from seven outings. Team will be as carded. Anyone unsure about selection, please turn up with your boots.