New signings set for Redingensians bow
Sportsdesk • Published 2 Dec 2011 08:45
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NEW signings Chris Rowland and Chris Knight could make their debuts for National Three South West promotion contenders Redingensians Rams at Chippenham on Saturday (2.30pm), writes Nigel Sutcliffe.
Third-placed Rams, four points behind the leaders, await international clearance for experienced front row man Rowland, a former England Under 21 World Cup player.
This season he has been playing at Spanish Premier side Gexto Artea, but is returning to this country due to family reasons..
Reading University skipper Knight is also expected to be in the squad of 18 and can fill the wing or full-back berths. He has already played for Welsh Premiership leaders Llandovery this autumn.
Ex-Newbury prop Nathan Thomas could also be named as Rams crank up their promotion drive, while winger Joao Costa is recalled.
The changes are brought about through the absence of Michael Clarke and Mark Odejobi at the Dubai Sevens and a hand injury suffered by reserve hooker Mike Fisher.
Director of rugby Gary Reynolds said: "We have the strongest squad in our history but now we have to step up a gear.
"The mindset in the club has changed. We're looking for top spot - and automatic promotion - not just a play-off place.
"From now on every match will be like a cup final. We have to win the remainder of our matches and I'm convinced we have a team equipped to do it.
"The lads were unhappy with the performance at Newbury although we won 46-6. But they more than made up for it in the next match.
"We countered fourth-placed Newton Abbot's kick and drive game and scored five tries in the second half without reply."
This weekend's opponents Chippenham opened their season with three straight defeats, conceding 139 points, but they have rallied since and are now clear of the relegation zone.
READING ABBEY
LONG standing clubman Ian Machin stands in as head coach of Reading Abbey this week in the absence of Adam Hurst playing 7s rugby in Dubai, writes Mike Mellor.
Hurst, Gavin Dampies, James Kerr and physio Mike Dye, are all involved in an invitation tournament running alongside the international sevens competition in which Chris Cracknell plays for England, who also coaches at Abbey.
Stand in coach Machin says he's delighted to take the bigger stage, even though it's just a week. He's coached the successful Colts section of the club for the last two years, equally thrilled to see his youngsters beat Newbury last week in the opening Colts league fixture. On Sunday the Colts kick off at 1pm in the first round of the National Plate Competition against Ashford from Kent.
Those Dubai absentees create gaps filled by Jack Parsons at full back and by Fungai Mutepha having a second run out as flanker. Tom Bryson returns to action, having missed the last game against Bletchley when Abbey went down in a close encounter.
Elsewhere, Machin looks for an unchanged side, adding that what he wants from the team is patience, decisiveness and to be clinical in their finishing.
Salisbury, lying fourth in South West One East will be a handful for the Rosehill team, but like many they are not a travelling side - they have only two wins from six away outings compared to their unbeaten home record. This is an opportunity for Abbey to mock the league standings by snatching a win.
READING RFC
READING RFC entertain North Buckinghamshire club Bletchley in South West One East this Saturday (2pm ko), writes Ted Goodhew.
The visitors are two places above Reading and are six points ahead. They have won two of their last three games, beating Maidenhead 44-20 (after being 44-3 up) three weeks ago and Reading Abbey 16-10 in their most recent game. In between they lost at top team Coney Hill.
Reading have won their last two games, winning their latest home game against Olney (69-20) and at Buckingham (22-7) and they will be looking to maintain that run but they will know that Bletchley can be a dangerous side.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 01 Dec 11
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