Weather permitting the 2nd XV face Groundhog Day on Saturday as Chester visit Lightfoot Green in a Raging Bull Cup Quarter-Final. The teams met last Saturday in highly entertaining if not extremely nerve wracking Bateman Premier League fixture. Young’s men came out on top thanks in part to a late penalty try and there is little doubt that the men from Cheshire will be gunning for the table topping twos.
Hoppers’ injury crisis is gradually beginning to subside whilst a number of players who visited headquarters last weekend are also available. Skipper Cameron Berry returns to captain the side at the expense of Andrew Pollock who is on a course this weekend. Meanwhile there is a big shake up in the forwards as there are six changes from last time out. Peterson and Mabaya drop to the bench whilst Thundercliffe, McGuire, Sam Gale and Napier are absent. However Young is able to call upon Chris Gale, Rich Morton, Alex Austin, Mark Rigbye, Dan Fletcher and Killian Wallace so the pack has a more recognisable feel about it.
Coach Young is at Twickenham this weekend offering his consultancy skills to messers Lancaster & Rowntree so he will be keeping half an eye on the @RugbyHoppers twitter feed. Hoppers are intent on progressing to the semi-finals and beyond as aside from a victory in 2006 the knock out competition has been dominated by Macclesfield and current holders Sedgley Park. Although Park were unceremoniously dumped out of the completion by Chester just a few weeks ago.
Meet time is scheduled for 12.30 whilst kick off is due for 2.15pm. The squad in full is as follows:
Chris Gale
Alan Martindale
Rich Morton
Dan Fletcher
Mark Rigbye
Jonny Doney
Killian Wallace
Alex Austin
Matt Conway
Lewis Allen
Anthony Elliott
Cameron Berry (c)
Harry Reddick
Ollie Yates
Mark Murray
Reps: John Peterson, Brad Tuff, Oga Mabaya, Matt Gargett, Josh Oldland.
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