Oxford Harlequins give debuts to Charles Sammut and Graham Sage in tomorrow’s National 3 South West clash at ambitious Redingensians.
Sammut, who has joined from Old Patesians, starts at blindside flanker, while ex-Keynsham man Sage comes in at scrum half.
And Quins’ director of rugby John Brodley remains optimistic they will improve after losing heavily in three of their four matches so far.
“We are getting closer to our A team week by week,” said Brodley.
“Redingensians will be a tough game. Their full back, Jevon Marsh, scored four tries last week, so we are working on keeping the ball away from him.
“We think we are going to be more competitive up front, but we must make our original tackles and be stronger in defence.”
Prop Jonathan Hall, locks Michael Forde and Will Clayton, wing Andy Noyce, centre Anthony Cope and fly half Joey Todd return to the squad.
Chinnor bid to stretch their winning start to the season to five games when they take on Old Patesians at Kingsey Road.
The Thame-based outfit made it four wins on the bounce with a 21-10 victory at Bristol’s Old Redcliffians last weekend when wing Tristan Corpe was unavailable as he was on a Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle ride.
Experienced scrum half James Gaunt replaces Jack Shaylor (ankle) as Henley Hawks host Westcombe Park in National 2 South.
Prop Jim Hadfield has a shoulder injury, so Alex Penny comes in at tight-head.
Will Bigley replaces Alec Hepburn at loose-head, Andy Downing comes in at No 8 with Rupert Crossland dropping to the bench, while Matt Payne moves to openside flanker.
Full back Ed Mitcham, wing James Monks and prop Jamie Burke return to the Witney squad for their home clash with Swanage & Wareham in South West 1 East.
Centre Joe Collins, prop Matt Calley and back James Taafe all miss out.
TOMORROW’S TEAMS
Henley Hawks (v Westcombe Park, home): Comben, Baggett, Wells, Cheesman, Andre, Allen (capt), Gaunt, Bigley, Brennan, Penny, Winterbottom, Clements, Newman, M Payne, Downing. Reps: Hepburn, Milford-Scott, Crossland, McLaren, Hay-nes.
Oxford Harlequins (v Redingensians, away): from Chadbone, Edney, Barlow, Hall, Boyle, Forde, Clayton, Watkins, J Cope, Powell, Sammut, Sage, Stevenson, Noyce, A Cope, Nutt, Burn, Warman, Todd.
Witney (v Swanage & Wareham, home): from Mitcham, L Collins, J Lamb, Strutt, Monks, H Lamb, Harper, G Campbell, Fuller, Burke, C Quarterman, Richens, M Copperwheat, Mortimer, Haire, Muller, C Campbell, J Hicks (capt).
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