The second team travel to old foes Macclesfield Lions on Saturday aiming to underpin their winning start to the Cotton Traders Premier League. Games at Priory Lane are always tough affairs and the two sides have had some thrilling battles over the years.
The Lions are perennial title challengers but were beaten by reigning champions Sedgley Tigers on the opening day. They usually boast a heavy, well organised pack with dynamic loose forwards and outside backs who like to run the ball.
Hoppers have made a number of changes this week, starting an entirely new front row. Ryan Purcell and the exciting Connor Johnson make their first starts whilst Dan Madden comes in having helped the first team overcome Sandal last week.
Newly-wed Tony Dennison comes in at lock with skipper Mark Rigbye (pictured above) unavailable this week. In the back line Harrison Moulding returns from injury whilst Rob Meadows makes his Hoppers debut in the centres. Such is the squad depth that a number of those involved against Sale FC last weekend are in third team action this time out.
Words by Ade Jebb
Cotton Traders Premier League Match Day 2 – 09.09.2017
Macclesfield 2nd XV vs Hoppers 2nd XV
Kick Off: 3:00pm
Meet: 1:30pm at Priory Park.
Depart Preston: 12:00 noon
Dan Madden
Connor Johnson
Ryan Purcell
Anthony Dennison
Jack Granby
James Mawdsley
Matt Frings
Luke Proctor
Harrison Moulding
Tom Forster
Matt Gargett
Jack Akrigg
Rob Meadows
Cameron Robinson
Jobe Roxby
Ryan Wilkinson
Dominic Aspinall
Rhys Llewellyn
