League leaders Wimborne welcome Petersfield to Leigh Park tomorrow seeking to galvanise their position at the top of Regional 2 South Central, but the visitors arrive with confidence buoyed following their recent victory over Havant IIs.
Petersfield have proven something of a bogey side for ‘The Badgers’ in recent seasons, having prevailed in 3 of their 4 most recent encounters, but the home side come into this match with brimming confidence having dispatched all before them this campaign. Leigh Park is the epitome of the so called ‘fortress’ this season; in their three home matches to date, Wimborne have scored a quite staggering 233 points (an average of over 77 points per game) while conceding a mere 2 tries on home turf!
Nevertheless, Head Coach, Matt Sturgess, is justifiably wary of the threat posed by the weekend’s visitors from Hampshire. He said, “We are really looking forward to getting the league campaign underway again this weekend and are very much looking to maintain the positive momentum we have created so far.”
“We are certainly not underestimating the challenge we will face from Petersfield. They are a very good side and we had 2 really good games against them last season but we will give it a good go”, added Sturgess.
Wimborne make a number of changes this Saturday – some enforced – following victory over Weighbridge Vandals last time out. Stalwart prop, Jack Arnold, has won his fitness battle and will scrum down alongside fellow front row brethren, Louis Allum and Henry Turner.
Tim Ellis and Kieran Mayall provide an appropriate blend of ballast and bludgeon in the engine room whilst Harry Duffield and Stan Vincent will pose significant carrying threats from back row. Dynamic open side, Tris T, returns to captain the side, in what looks, on paper, a formidable pack.
Injuries and unavailability have created several selection conundrums within the back division this week. With Tom Moysey away with work, mercurial tyro, Will Courage, is given the nod at 10 following several commanding displays for Wimborne’s second string. Further evidence of the bristling depth within the ‘Wimborne pathway’ sees back three operator, Jacob Squire, deservedly promoted to a place on the bench and will celebrate his 3rd cap when he enters the fray- a mere 13 seasons after his first!
Elsewhere, the versatile Jack Adams joins Rhys Gosling in the centre and both will be hoping to unleash a potent looking back 3 of Mav Goodchild, Ash Taylor and Flynn Drummond.
Kick off on Saturday is at 1430hrs and all are warmly welcomed to Leigh Park.
