Tynedale vs. Preston Grasshoppers
Looking to build on last Saturday’s victory, Preston Grasshoppers will head for Corbridge in the North East of England on Saturday and after their coach cautiously makes its way through the narrow village streets, cross the river Tyne bridge to face the aptly named Tynedale rugby club on their Tynedale Park ground.
Hopefully by the time their favourites kick off looking for their first win of the season on their travels, the Hoppers follower’s nerves will have settled down after another close finish in last weeks game. Thankfully the six tries scored proved sufficient in the end.
Our opponents have a similar story to ourselves this season, with their two victories to date (Fylde and Sedgley Park) coming on home soil plus a drawn game against South Leicester. The game promises to be something of a try fest with both sides scoring and conceding plenty so far this season, Tynedale thirty seven from eight games to Hoppers thirty six from nine. On the negative side, Hoppers have conceded thirty five whilst our hosts have had their line crossed on thirty seven occasions from one game less. Last weeks victory over Sheffield Tigers lifted Hoppers a couple of places in the table to sit tenth with Tynedale six points and four places behind, but with a game in hand.
Tynedale first gained promotion to Level 4 in what was then National 3 North during the same season Hoppers were demoted from National 2 back in 2002. Preston Grasshoppers haven’t found Corbridge one of their more favourable venues over the years, recording just three victories from thirteen contests. The last of these being back in January 2003 when the scoring was performed by Paul Bailey with a couple of tries, accompanied by one each from Owen McKenna and a young Oliver Viney, the extras coming from the boot of Sam Houston. This was the first League fixture between the two clubs and was played on the 18thof January 2003 when Hoppers gained their last, and only League victory at the Tynedale Park ground in convincing fashion by twenty six points to eight.
The first meeting between Preston Grasshoppers and Tynedale was at Corbridge on the 9thof February 1980 after a fixture the previous season at Lightfoot Green had been cancelled. The victors that day were the home side by twelve points to three.
All told there have been twenty six meetings between the two clubs plus a pre-season game at Lightfoot Green before the 2012/13 season, with a further five fixtures being cancelled including the proposed initial game. Currently Tynedale hold the upper hand with sixteen wins to Hoppers ten. Amongst these there are ten league wins to our opponents and just four to Hoppers with the spoils of the pre-season game going to Hoppers.
Team News
Hoppers side sees just the one change from the win over Sheffield Tigers with Brad Cave taking the full back shirt in place of the injured Alex Hurst. Noah Miller, Connor Johnson and Jake Squirrell take their places amongst the replacements with Tyler Sloane, Rouban Birch and Matt Crow dropping out.
1. Oga Mabaya
2. PJ Millea (C)
3. Peter Altham
4. Paul Arnold
5. Luke Procter
6. Alastair Murray
7. Oliver Trippier
8. Matthew Lamprey
9. James Gough
10. Thomas Davidson
11. Conor Trueman
12. James Fitzpatrick
13. Sam Stott
14. Tyler Spence
15. Brad Cave
16. Noah Miller
17. Connor Johnson
18. Adam Howard
19. Jake Squirrell
20. Alex Ward
