Saturday 15:00 KO
- 1st XV v. Heath (Home)
- 2nd XV v. Heath (Home) – cancelled
- 3rd XV v. Goole 2 (Away)
- 4th XV v. Goole 3 (Away)
Sunday
- Ladies 1st XV v. Kendal Wasps (Home) – postponed
They say that a good defence can win you a game as much as a good attack. That was certainly the case last Saturday against a good Alnwick side. It was a very good win and one that was needed considering how all the other results went in this hugely competitive league. Keeping the opposition out for long periods of time on your own try line does wonders for team spirit. I am sure that it will have rubbed off on the lads.
But it doesn’t get any easier as we entertain fourth-placed Heath who only just lost to Huddersfield last week with a late-struck penalty. Promotion and relegation are still very much to be won and lost. The next three league Saturdays are going to be very interesting and tense.
As always there are changes to the team : Ben Dinsdale starts at full back ; we make a late call on the half-back pairing ; Jack Sowersby makes a welcome return as the replacement back ; Will Hughes returns at number eight ; as does Harry Grant in the second row. We also welcome back Felix Nellen who takes his place on the bench, with Sam Robson making up the three.
The 2nd XV got back to winning ways we with a comfortable win against Alnwick 2s, and also entertain Heath. After Saturday, they have two league games left, both away at Wharfedale and Ilkley. The play-offs have to be the goal.
The 3rd XV picked up a losing bonus point with the last play of the game against a strong Pocklington 2s. Unfortunately the 4th XV were victims of a late call-off. They both travel to Goole today, with hopefully some flexibility from both clubs so that two games can be played – participation has to be the main focus.
The Colts have no game tomorrow but kept up the pressure at the top of the league last Sunday with a excellent win against Beverley. A number of the lads will have a run out with the senior teams tomorrow. The Ladies planned home fixture against Kendal Wasps has been rearranged to 13 April.
Finally a big welcome to all players and spectators from Heath. They have had another excellent season and, I am sure like ourselves, are still reminiscing over their memorable day out at Twickenham. If ever there was a game that went down to the wire, that was it. Like Alnwick, the result generally goes the way of the home team. Again I hope that is the case, but we will have to at least play as well as we did last week for that to happen.
‘Bash‘
1st XV v. Heath
- Simon Pettinger (c)*
- Dan Ramsden
- Henry Furbank*
- Harry Grant*
- Will Robson*
- Jack Webster*
- Rob Mewburn*
- Will Hughes
- Gregor Napier*
- Josh Stanyon*
- Robbie Rix*
- George Bastow
- Ben Blacker*
- Owen Scurry*
- Ben Dinsdale*
- Sam Robson*
- Felix Nellen*
- Jack Sowersby*