Preston Grasshoppers vs. Luctonians – Kick Off 2.30pm
Kilian Wallace protects the ball for the onrushing Eddie Webster during the first half at Otley.
Team News
A couple of new faces appear amongst this weeks starting line up in the form of Lloyd Davies at stand off who has joined us from National 1 Wharfedale together with winger Conor Trueman.
Sam Wallbank returns to his more familiar role in the second row and Skipper Dominic Moon returns after just one week’s absence together with Dan Madden who gets a starting place.
A new half back pairing of newcomer Davies and Tom Smith who came on as replacement last week at Otley plus the return of Sam Bedlow in place of Sean Taylor who is with the England Counties in France, sees a shuffled set of backs for Hopppers.
The line up will be;
1 Danny Madden, 2 Alan Holmes, 3 Pete Altham, 4 Ally Murray, 5 Sam Wallbank , 6, Kilian Wallace, 7 Eddie Webster, 8 Dominic Moon (Captain), 9 Tom Smith, 10 Lloyd Davies, 11 Conor Trueman, 12 Jack Ward, 13 Phil Baines, 14 Adam Birchall, 15 Sam Bedlow.
Replacements:
16 Brad Tuff, 17, Mo Mustafa, 18 Will Lees, 19 Richard Morton, 20 Craig Aikman.
Luctonians have announced the following list of players for their long trip to Preston, let’s hope they don’t get snowed in as last season!
1 Anthony Marfell, 2 Chris Condliffe, 3 Richard Jones, 4 Chris Harris, 5 Daniel Smith, 6 Sam Jones, 7 Ben James, 8 Brad Talbot, 9 Nathan Roy-Smith, 10 Thomas Jones, 11 Adam Knight, 12 Alex James, 13 Geraint Langdon, 14 Drew Cheshire, 15 Jimmy Norris (Capt).
Replacements;
16 Mike Jones, 17 Jordan Street, 18 John Kelly, 19 Matt Hackley, 20 Will Burton.
Preview
With that long awaited victory now safely under their belts, Hoppers welcome Luctonians (if it ever stops raining!) to Lightfoot Green this coming Saturday. The Herefordshire outfit don’t have many happy memories of their previous visits to this particular part of Lancashire both on and off the field but it’s hoped Hoppers hospitality in the clubhouse is welcomed as much as our visits to Mortimer Park.
Hoppers win at Cross Green in atrocious conditions last week was as welcome as the shelter offered to their supporters beneath the old Grandstand which once witnessed Preston Grasshoppers exploits at Faringdon Park back in the 1920’s and the first ever meeting between Hoppers and Otley.
Hoppers (black shirts) playing Sale ‘A’ at Faringdon Park back in 1926 in front of a packed Grandstand
A serious injury in similar pitch conditions witnessed in Yorkshire last week to one of the visiting players, caused the abandonment of the game at Mortimer Park, so our visitors will be heading north having missed out on a full match day work out.
Having moved through the Midland’s Leagues, Luctonians seem to have settled in at Level 4 and are currently playing their fourth season at this level although the current term is their least successful to date and sees them languishing with Hoppers in the bottom half of the league. Both clubs will be looking to turn things around during the remainder of the season and finish in the top half once again.
As mentioned earlier, our visitors are having their most unsuccessful season at this level and won’t be relishing a visit to what must be one of their least favourite venues, the home side averaging over fifty points from the three previous meetings at Lightfoot Green but the home side must be cautious, as Hoppers turned round three unsuccessful visits to the Herefordshire ground earlier this season, recording their first ever victory at that particular venue.
The full record of meetings between the two clubs reads, four victories to Preston Grasshoppers whilst our visitors have recorded just two wins with last seasons fixture at Mortimer Park ending all square.
Similar to the 1stXV, Hoppers Seconds got back into the winning groove last Saturday and will be travelling to Cheshire this Saturday to play their Sale counterparts.
It should have been Cup weekend this coming Saturday for Hoppers other Senior sides, but with just the ‘Fourths’ winning through to the next round from the men’s section and with a visit to Powderhouse Lane to play Vale’s Thirds it looks like being a quieter than normal weekend for the remaining senior men. Meanwhile the Women’s side having received a bye in the first round of the Intermediate Cup now face a trip to Eccles on Sunday.
Hoppers 2 vs. Sale 2 (Away)
Hoppers 4 vs. Vale of Lune ‘Bowl’ (Away)
Hoppers Women vs. Eccles ‘Intermediate Cup’ (Away) – Sunday
Photographs courtesy Sid Wallace and from Preston Grasshoppers Archive.
6 Nations
We will be showing the France vs England game at 5pm in the clubhouse so join us in the bar for a rugby club atmosphere and cheer on the red rose.
