Pete Altham touches down for Hoppers bonus point try last week at Leicester Lions
Preston Grasshoppers vs. Hull Ionians – Kick Off 2.30pm
Team News
Garth Dew makes four changes to the starting XV from last week at Leicester Lions with the return of Jack Walker, Reece Tomlinson and Sam Russell. Will Lees drops to the bench and John O’Donnell gets his first start for Hoppers.
1. Danny Madden, 2. Phil Mills, 3. Pete Altham, 4. Reece Tomlinson, 5. Ally Murray (Capt.), 6. Andy Napier, 7. Jack Walker, 8. Chris Taylor, 9. Sam Kindred, 10. Lewis Allen, 11. John O’Donnell, 12. Billy Woof, 13. Sam Russell, 14. Scott Jordan, 15. Mark Murray.
Replacements: 16. Jack Wilkinson, 17. Tom McGuinness, 18. Will Lees, 19. Dominic Moon, 20. Olly Yates.
Preview
Hoppers have another tough assignment this coming Saturday when they host high flying Hull Ionians at Lightfoot Green and after a disappointing last quarter against Leicester Lions last Saturday they’ll be looking to get back to the form they’ve shown during the last few outings.
Our visitors this week are looking to bounce straight back up to National 1 after just one season at that level last season. Injuries and missing players must have played a big part in a season which ended in relegation back to National 2 North, having only a trio of victories from thirty outings for their efforts.
A quick look at last seasons ‘promotees’ from this level will give our opponents some encouragement as both Darlington Mowden Park and Hartpury College currently sit in the top half of the table although on a cautionary note, Macclesfield look set to suffer the same fate as Ionians having won only twice so far this term.
Ionians currently hold the play off position in National 2 North with a game in hand over leaders Ampthill and unless there’s a sudden change in form and fortunes, they’ll surely be in contention come the end of April.
Fixtures against Hull Ionians started in their inaugural season and on the 7th of October 1989 they made their first visit to Lightfoot Green, when on this occasion the visiting team were victorious by thirteen points to nine.
The playing record to date between today’s rivals stands exactly equal, with each team having won fourteen games, although Ionians have the advantage in league meetings by just the single victory in twenty one.
Photograph courtesy of Colin Taylor.
