Preston Grasshoppers vs. Burnage, Saturday 9th April, 2:30pm
Preston Grasshoppers welcome Burnage rugby club to Lightfoot Green for the first time in a League game, the two having only met in the past at Varley Park back in 2014 for a pre-season practice game and this season’s League encounter at the same venue.
Hoppers head into the game with promotion secured after the fine win at Alnwick last weekend. The 33-12 win combined with Blackburn’s loss at Lymm means Paul Arnold’s men cannot be caught and are guaranteed a top 2 place. All that’s left to be decided is whether Hoppers can overhaul Otley who sit 3 points ahead. Otley host Northwich this weekend and head to York for the last weekend.
Burnage have won just five of their twenty two games to date which unsurprisingly include home and away wins over Northwich plus Kirkby Lonsdale at Valley Park but on the road at Rossendale’s Marl Pits is a notable achievement together with the home victory over York.
Our hosts gained promotion back into this level of the Northern Leagues by way of finishing in top spot when the calculations were made at the end of the 2019/20 truncated season. This league is no stranger to Burnage, as they resided here between 2011 and 2016 before regaining their current playing level.
The 1869 Club are running a supporters coach to what will be the last away game of the season at Northwich. The usual arrangements will be in force with departure from the Clubhouse, a lunch stop en-route and scheduled to leave one hour after the final whistle, although this may be delayed if celebrations with the team are in order?
Milestones
If selected, vice captain Sam Stott (pictured above) will make his 100th 1st XV appearance this weekend. The Alnwick game saw a debut for back row Will Fryer.
Team News
- Oga MABAYA
- Christian TAYLOR (C)
- Pete ALTHAM
- Ally MURRAY
- Sam GALE
- Toby HARRISON
- Rob BRAMHALL
- Matt LAMPREY
- Harrison MOULDING
- Ben PEARSON
- Jacob BROWNE
- Ben DORRINGTON
- Sam STOTT
- Jordan DORRINGTON
- Tom WALKER
- Olli TRIPPIER
- Alex TAYLORSON
- Jake SQUIRRELL
