County Championship Pool 3

James Lamb will cap a fine week when he makes his Oxfordshire debut against Dorset & Wilts at Chinnor on Saturday (3).

The hard-tackling centre took over from Jez Hicks as Witney captain and was the stand-out player in Oxon’s trial match against a Chinnor XV on Monday.

Now, set to start at inside centre, he will look to help Oxfordshire get their campaign off to a winning start.

Oxon’s line-up is subject to a number of injury concerns, but wing Jackson Sayce (Wallingford) and Chinnor duo, prop Ian Stock and flanker Adam Hastings, are also due to make their debuts.

The biggest name in the squad is London Scottish lock Andy Smith, who has also played from Newbury and the Army.

Smith will be partnered by Chinnor’s Matt Hutchings, who captains the side.

Team manager Bill Allen said: “We have had a hell of a job with injuries.

“We have major doubts over Ollie Campbell and Anthony Cope. Richie Williams (backs coach) may sit on the bench.

“In a fortnight’s time when we play Essex, we could have a completely different side.

“Dorset & Wilts have got the same problem as we have. I think they have lost most of their Bournemouth players.”

With only three teams in Pool 3, Oxfordshire will have to win both matches to be sure of reaching the semi-finals.

Allen said: “If we can get past this one on Saturday, we have a chance.We need a lot stronger side to go to Essex.

“The two coaches we have got are superb, but they have not had the players on a regular basis to train.”

Oxfordshire (v Dorset & Wilts): from H Jones (Oxford Harlequins), Sayce (Wallingford), Hewitt (Chinnor), J Lamb (Witney), Sevier (Oxford Harlequins), Cathcart (Chinnor), Sewell (Oxford Harlequins), Whelan (Chinnor), Cawston (Chinnor), Stock (Chinnor), Hutchings (capt, Chinnor), Smith (London Scottish), Hastings (Chinnor), Bannister (Banbury), Pearson (Oxford Harlequins), Winpenny (Chinnor), Eckert (Chinnor), Nicholl (Oxford Harlequins), Prescott (Chinnor), Cope (Oxford Harlequins), Campbell (Oxford Harlequins), Muller (Witney), Boulton (Oxford Harlequins), Chadbone (Oxford Harlequins).