Redingensians ready for 'must-win' clash
Published 9 Feb 2012 14:30
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HEAD coach Mike Tewkesbury warns that Redingensians Rams will have to be at their very best against unbeaten Chinnor at Sonning on Saturday (2.30pm), writes Nigel Sutcliffe.
Their National Three South West game in December was abandoned after 58 minutes when Chinnor winger Ken Prinsloo sustained a serious leg injury.
Tewkesbury said: "This a real "must win" match for us to keep our promotion hopes alive and we have to learn from the last game.
"We presented them with two tries through lapses in defence. This time we have to be precise and accurate in our approach.
"Chinnor are a good side. They are very well organised, do the basics well, don't take risks and punish mistakes."
However, he can take heart from the fact Rams forwards were very much in the ascendancy at the time the previous match was called off.
Although they will be missing lock Owen Root (dead leg) and flanker Andy Amor (holiday), they have capable replacements in Connor Stapley and Matt Davies.
In the backs Reading University student full-back Chris Knight and England Sevens winger Mark Odejobi return after injury, while Shaun Brown resumes at fly-half.
With the weather forecast far from promising, local referee Ashley Rowden will inspect the Old Bath Road pitch on Friday.
However if there is the prospect of a thaw then he will make a further inspection on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Friday evening's home cup-tie between the Titans - Gensians second string - and Reading is definitely off and likely to be played on Wednesday, February 22.
******* Reading RFC *********
AFTER last week's cancellation due to the weather, Reading and High Wycombe will attempt to complete the fixture at Sonning Lane this Saturday (2.30pm ko.), writes Ted Goodhew.
Both sides are within a group of five teams within two points of each other in South West One East, with Reading just a point and one place above their Buckinghamshire rivals.
As with most teams in this league, including Reading, Wycombe have a very inconsistent record with good wins - they have beaten Coney Hill (away), Salisbury (home), Swindon (home), Marlow (home) and Reading Abbey (away) - mingled with defeats to Reading Abbey (home), Bletchley, Swanage and Wareham and Witney.
Manager Kevin Rackley is confident that the week's respite will mean that Andrew Tweedie (hamstring) and Rob Sweeney (knee) will have recovered from injury by then but
prop Richard Pryor is out with injury. Mark Roberts comes in for him and Peter Czernuszka, flanker, and Chris Horn, second row, return.
******* Reading Abbey *********
ABBEY'S postponed South West One East match against Swindon now scheduled for this Saturday (2.15pm ko) displaces the Berkshire Cup first round
clash with Newbury, writes Mike Mellor.
The clubs are moving towards a midweek cup match under lights at Monks Lane.
But coach Ian Machin is urging his side to take one match at a time, keep their focus and maintain their momentum.
"Swindon is our focus, our mood is that we can beat anyone in this league," he said. "It's all very tight at the lower end of the league."
Team news is good with all cleared to play other than talented Jack Parsons who will be with the Hampshire Under 20s.
So Waite, Holden and Mollett, the in-form trio front row will line up together. Scrum half Ollie Heath plays for the sixth consecutive time alongside Sam Butcher the one time Yorkshire Schoolboy representative and recent ex- Loughborough College student.
Machin has been running the squad through the drills and training in the gym as there is still a smattering of snow on the ground at Rosehill, and with the ground rock solid
even this Saturday's game will be at risk.
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