Preston Grasshoppers welcome visitors Northwich RUFC to start the long awaited return to rugby at Lightfoot Green this Saturday at 2.30pm, for the opening game of the new season, this being just the second meeting between the two clubs.
With a couple of pre-season warm-up games under their belts in which both old and new faces were seen in action, Hoppers supporters who’ve been starved of club rugby for eighteen months will be excited to see their favourites back in action once again.
Should he make the squad for Saturday’s opener, Jake Squirrell will be making his 50th appearance for Preston Grasshoppers at 1st XV level.
The only other meeting between Preston Grasshoppers and Northwich happened back on the 18th of February 1995 at Lightfoot Green when the visitors stood in for Bradford and Bingley who were the scheduled opponents. Hoppers running out winners by twenty five points to three.
Northwich had been knocking on the door for promotion from North 1 West for a number of seasons before finally achieving their goal when the calculations were made at the end of the truncated season in 2020. When all the numbers were added up, the Cheshire side finished one point ahead of Waterloo, Wilmslow and Altrincham Kersal from the West and way ahead of Cleckheaton in the East, thus taking the third promotion place.
Many from Lightfoot Green will have recollections of regular League games between Hoppers and the other Northwich rugby side Winnington Park, whom we last played in 1999 at Level 4 in the Jewson National 3 North League. Some may even recall a three points to nil victory at Burrows Hill in October 1990?
The 1869 Club are running a supporters coach (£20pp) to Otley next Saturday with a 10:30 start time from the Clubhouse. There will be the usual stop for lunch en-route, returning approximately 1 hour after the final whistle. This will be an important match and a game which hopefully will see the scoreboard operator in action this time!
Please add your name to the list on the Noticeboard or alternatively email Les Harrison on leslieharrison951@btinternet.com.
Team News
- Noah MILLER
- Chris TAYLOR
- Olli TRIPPIER
- Luke PROCTER
- Ally MURRAY
- Toby HARRISON
- Sam GALE
- Matt LAMPREY
- Jake SQUIRREL
- Tom WALKER
- Will CLAPHAM
- Sam STOTT
- Jordan DORRINGTON
- Jacob BROWNE
- Ben PEARSON
- Oga MABAYA
- Ben DORRINGTON
- Tyler SPENCE
