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TEAM NEWS | Seven changes for Doncaster cup clash
Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues look to carry forward last weekend’s momentum and keep their Championship Cup hopes alive when they travel to Doncaster Knights tomorrow (KO 2:30pm).
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A relatively new fixture with a first meeting in 2005, yet not withstanding its drama already with an average of close to 45 points scored each fixture, Blues will need a strong performance this time around against a Knights side that are yet to taste defeat on home soil this season.
It was a 10-try battle earlier this season in league action at Castle Park, with Doncaster having to travel to Goldington Road twice inside three weeks following the turn of the year.
For the 37th meeting between the two teams, Rayer makes seven changes to the team which continued Blues’ impressive home run to start the season in victory over Coventry and close the gap on Doncaster in top spot of Group B after two rounds of action.
There are three changes to the backs division as Jamie Elliott moves from outside to inside centre to accommodate the inclusions of Michael Le Bourgeois, Pat Tapley and Seán French to the Starting XV.
The final four changes come within the forwards, including two in the front row as Joey Conway and Oisin Heffernan return to pack down alongside Jack Hughes.
Back five duo Robin Williams and Jac Arthur are back in the second row and at blindside respectively to conclude the changes.
With Northampton Saints’ involvement in Premiership Cup action meaning lesser availability, and injuries suffered last weekend, Rayer has been forced into bringing in reinforcements to bolster the bench with four players in line for their second-tier debut.
Blues thank former prop Ben Cooper and his Bury St Edmunds side for allowing lock forward George Grigg-Pettitt to join on short term loan, as well as sending gratitude to Tonbridge Juddians with scrum-half Matteo Petrozzi also linking up with Rayer’s side.
Ryan Apps, who featured in the pre-season friendly against Northampton, makes the matchday squad for the first time in competitive action. Saints’ Frankie Sleightholme completes the list of potential debutants.
Matt Worley concludes his time away on international duty with Hong Kong later this this afternoon when they take on Kenya. Jordan Onojaife and Alex Woolford join Louis Grimoldby as the injury absentees.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Michael Le Bourgeois, 14. Patrick Tapley, 13. Seán French, 12. Jamie Elliott, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (c); 1. Joey Conway, 2. Jack Hughes, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Robin Williams, 5. Luke Frost, 6. Jac Arthur, 7. Charles Rylands, 8. Tui Uru
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Jacob Fields, 17. Monty Royston, 18. Osman Dimen, 19. George Grigg-Pettitt, 20. Aston Gradwick-Light, 21. Matteo Petrozzi, 22. Frankie Sleightholme, 23. Ryan Apps
