Ampthill welcome old friends Jersey Reds to the GRANGE Jaguar-Land Rover Bowl tomorrow looking to keep their recent run going and attempt to make their record “three from three” for the first time in the Championship this season.
Head Coach Paul Turner refreshes the pack following a physical encounter at The Mennaye Field last weekend. Saracen’s pair of Sams – Crean and Wainwright start at prop with in-form Syd Blackmore giving Wardy another rest! Recent performances earn Billy Johnson and Jac Arthur their first starts this season with Ollie Stonham in the back row. Last week’s Man of the Match Aleki Lutui is among the replacements with Dave Ward, Jamie Jack, Alex Humfrey and Carl Burgess.
Only two changes in the backs this week. Joe Roberts has returned to Scarlets following completion of his loan so Saracens Josh Hallett earns his starts alongside last week’s try-scoring debutant Richard Streets. Matt Marsh rotates with Jonny Law alongside captain Louis Grimoldby.
Ampthill RUFC and the Greene King IPA Championship are supporting the BT Sport “Draw the Line” campaign this weekend boycotting social media from 1500 on Friday 30th until 2359 on Mon 3rd May. Saturday’s game Kicks Off at 1.45pm and is available on a livestream through the RFU at https://www.championshiprugby.co.uk/live-streams
The full squad
15 Anderson, Cameron 16 Ward, Dave
14 Brown, Will 17 Jack, Jamie
13 Hallett, Josh 18 Lutui, Aleki
12 Streets, Richard 19 Burgess, Carl
11 Foster, Will 20 Humfrey, Alex
10 Grimoldby, Louis (Capt.) 21 Bryan, Sam
9 Marsh, Matt 22 Bennett, Russell
1 Crean, Sam 23 Sage, Jarryd
2 Blackmore, Syd
3 Wainwright, Sam
4 Beckett, Charlie
5 Jones, Llewelyn
6 Johnson, Billy
7 Arthur, Jac
8 Stonham, Ollie
Director of Rugby, Mark Lavery comments “Whilst the moons aligned to help us achieve the biggest win in our club history last Saturday, we will have to rely on getting our processes and decision-making right to get anything from the Reds who are hitting some form themselves! They gave us a lesson in expansive rugby at Dillingham Park last season and we again hope to improve on that result.”
