Borough face a massive match against fellow strugglers

Borough’s head coach Andrew Phillips will be telling his players they face their biggest test of the season against Market Rasen on Saturday - even though the Lincolnshire side have lost their last 10 games. Boroughovercametitle fancies Ilkeston 14- 10 in their last Midlands Division One East game on December 15 but Phillips sees the Rasen clash at Fengate ( 2.15pm) as amuchmoredaunting task.

“This is a really big game for us. Market Rasen have lost 10 on the bounce - the last time they wonwasagainstusattheir place - and, like us, they’re in the relegation zone. They will be desperate for points,” said Phillips.

“Theyarereally, really bigup front and their game is based around a solid scrum. Their forwards tore us apart when we met earlier in the season so weknowexactlywhattoexpect.

“It will be a massive test for our young front row - all of whom are under 20. But the boys proved against Ilkeston they can beat anyone in this league if they put their minds to it.

“It’s a tough month for us with games against Bedford Athletic, Newark and Matlock to follow so it wouldbebrilliant to kick off the new year with a win.”

Phillips will be without centre John Colley, who’s away in Norway with the RAF, policeman and fly- half Tom Herbert, who is working, and scrum- half Fraser Bodie, who is away on holiday.

Peterborough Lions also face a massive match. The l eague l eaders are away at Towcestrians and they are the division’s in- formteamwithimpressive December wins over OldNorthamptoniansandMatlock to their name.

When the two sides met back in September, the Lions had to work really hard to register a 27- 20 victory at Bretton Park.

“We lost 3- 0 to ONs just before Christmas in a dreadful match and it’s vital we get back on track straight away,” said Lions chairman Andy Moore.

“But we know it won’t be easy. Towcestrians proved to be tough nuts to crack when we played at home.”

Neil McCulloch is once again the main sponsor of the Peterborough Rugby Club first team this season. He backed the team for four seasons under the banner of Insurewise Ltd, of which he is the managing director, but this season he’s doing it through...

Scrum- half Fraser Bodie, pictured in possession for Borough during the win over Ilkeston, misses Saturday’s game against Market Rasen.