Preston Grasshoppers vs. Alnwick – 4th December 2021, Kick Off 2:30pm
Preston Grasshoppers welcome Alnwick RUFC, who boast being the most northerly rugby union club in England for their debut at Lightfoot Green this coming Saturday.
Everyone thought that last Saturday’s encounter with Wirral, who were defending a clean home record for this season would be a tough ask, and so it proved. The visitors found themselves fourteen points down at the quarter and to be honest, had barely had any possession of note. Once they got into the game the home side proved difficult to break down, but once Hoppers got their noses in front, only one obstacle remained. Even camping on the Wirral line for the last ten minutes of the game, the winning bonus point eluded them. The deflated look on the players faces as they trudged off to the shelter of the dressing room told the story.
Alnwick began life in 1880 before re-formation in 1960 and had played much of their league rugby at Level 6, apart from a couple of journeys down a level before gaining promotion at the end of the 2017/18 season into the Northern Premier League.
Their first season at this level saw them consolidate their position in the league but the 2019/20 season was more of a struggle. Once the tables were adjusted at the end of the truncated season they finish less than two points above Carlisle thus keeping their place for this term.
The visitors currently lie in fifth position, four points behind Blackburn and eleven from ourselves with last week’s postponed home game against Otley in hand.
The 1869 Club will be running a supporters coach to Burnage the following Saturday, which is another new venue for our 1st XV and no doubt their followers. The usual arrangements are in place for this the last away trip of 2021 and there’s a notice in the foyer with all the details.
Team News
- Oga MABAYA
- Chris TAYLOR (c)
- Pete ALTHAM
- Ewan NAYLOR
- Ally MURRAY
- Toby HARRISON
- Sam GALE
- Matt LAMPREY
- Jake SQUIRRELL
- Tom WALKER
- Tyler SPENCE
- Sam STOTT (C)
- Matt CROW
- Jordan DORRINGTON
- Jacob BROWNE
- Olli TRIPPIER
- Ben DORRINGTON
- Josh ROURKE
Match Programme
