Carnegie looking to find flaw in Bristol’s defences

YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE V BRISTOL

REALISTIC Yorkshire Carnegie captain Richard Mayhew knows his side must vastly improve if they are to have any chance of springing a surprise defeat on unbeaten Championship leaders Bristol.

The promotion favourites arrive at Emerald Headingley tonight having won all eight league games so far, looking like a side intent on making an immediate top-flight return.

Carnegie, on the other hand, were swept aside 44-19 at secondplaced Ealing Trailfinders last week and remain beset by injuries in key areas although they are lifted by popular centre Fred Burdon’s return after a season at Premiership Newcastle Falcons.

Openside Mayhew is fit to resume after coming off at Ealing and admitted: “Bristol have been playing pretty well. They have a strong squad and a big squad. It will be a major challenge, but we know what we’re taking on.

“We’re confident, if we turn up, we can do something. We dominated the line-out and the scrum at Ealing, but just lacked a bit of control in the right areas.

“We created a lot of linebreaks, but just didn’t finish them off and ended up making 25 handling errors.

“You can’t do that. It was frustrating. We can take positives, but we know we have to be really clinical against Bristol.

“They have a very good side from one to 22, look to throw the ball around and have won all their games. But teams have shown they are vulnerable at the set-piece if you get stuck into them. A Friday night in Leeds, it might be a bit cold... it might not be ideal for them.”

Head coach James Lowes makes just two changes. Andy Forsyth (knee) is ruled out so Chris Elder reverts to centre with Louis Brown coming in at wing.

Tighthead prop Charlie Beech replaces Elliot Millar-Mills whose loan arrangement has ended. He has asked to look at other options to pursue his international hopes in Scotland.

Prop Charlie Capps returns on the bench, joined by Burdon who has been training with Carnegie for the last few weeks.