The big freeze has proved a mixed blessing for Oxford Harlequins who host Cheltenham in National 3 South West tomorrow.
Quins have seen their last two matches postponed due to frozen pitches and are keen to resume action.
Director of rugby John Brodley said: “This will be our first game for three weeks. The good thing is that all our injuries have cleared up except Tim Knapp, who is well on the way to recovery.
“However, our teachers were available for the last two weeks, but not this week, so it is swings and roundabouts.”
Alex Lyness, who is usually a flanker, starts on the right wing against opponents who are two points below Quins.
Brodley added: “We beat Cheltenham early on, but they ‘ve had some good results lately, so we expect a tough game.”
Head coach Jason Bowers has named an unchanged squad as Chinnor travel to second-placed Old Patesians.
They have had to be creative to keep training during the cold snap.
Bowers said: “We have done a lot of stuff indoors and some circuit training.
“We have beaten Old Pats the last two times.”
Centre and place-kicker Danny Wells has been ruled out of Henley Hawks’ trip to leaders Ealing in National 2 South with a shoulder injury.
Neil Baggett moves up from full back to replaces him, with James Comben coming in at No 15.
Scrum half Micky Molloy and forward Jeremy Giles are called in as replacements.
Tom Harper comes in at fly half for Witney’s South West 1 East derby at Wallingford.
Alan Richens is preferred to Matt Calley at tight-head prop.
Wallingford welcome back Mike Turner, Matt Dawes and Phil Kelly, who replace Paul Lewis, Glenn Dearlove and Ciaran Farmer respectively.
Banbury make three changes for their Midlands 1 West clash away to Bournville.
Lock Matthew Brock is unavailable, so Nick Kern comes into the second row. Henry Teare and Will Oldham replace prop Perriss Wilkins and flanker Dan Boys.
TOMORROW'S TEAMS.
Henley Hawks (v Ealing, away): Comben, Bart, Baggett, James, Shaylor, Allen, Sewell, Hadfield, Dalgleish (capt), Brennan, Parr, Clements, Stradwick, Holloway, M Payne. Reps: Fuller, Penny, Giles, Haynes, Molloy.
Chinnor (v Old Patesians, away): from R Wiliams, Serrano, Goode, Morgan, B Corpe, Cathcart, Prescott, Winpenny, Tattersall, Pickett, Hutchings (capt), Smith, Hastings, Harrison, Fan, Berry, Mowbray, Hopwood.
Oxford Harlequins (v Cheltenham, home): from Chadbone (capt), Clark, Boulton, Eckert, Boyle, Purchase, Newman, Young, Welburn, Maspero, Stewart, Andre, Cope, Nutt, Lyness, Crapper, Powell, Pearson.
Witney (v Wallingford, away): H Lamb, L Collins, Strutt, J Lamb (capt), Monks, Harper, G Campbell, Burke, S Collins, Richens, Bennett, M Copperwheat, MacBurnie, C Campbell, J Hicks. Reps: Matchett, Calley, Thomas.
Wallingford (v Witney, home): from Blaszko, Chapman, Wiltshire, Rowberry, Turner, Wiltshire, Chapman, Jeffreys, Dawes, Henderson, Stalker, Collett, Kelly, Smith, Venners, Jenkins, Marris, Holton.
Banbury (v Bournville, away): Taylor, Daniels, Sturla, Heywood, Flemming, Smith, Phillips, Teare, Ell, Dymond, Kern, Saville, Keevil, Oldham, Brand. Reps: Gilbert, Kelcher, Holmes.
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