The week off arrived at the perfect time after a difficult block of games including Yorkshire Carnegie and Hartpury away in a six-day time frame which utilised nearly every member of the playing squad.
#CommunityRugbyClub #CommunityRugby #ChampRugby
After an unexpected rest weekend due to Storm Ciara and events off the pitch this week, the boys are raring to get out on the field and play some rugby.
New signing Michael van Vuuren will make his debut from the bench – we’re sure the #Mob crowd will give him a warm welcome! It’s @LSFCOfficial first competitive visit to Dillingham Park for what will be a great example of #ChampRugby – let’s hope Storm Dennis doesn’t spoil the day!
Ampthill won this fixture 53-22 back in October but they are facing a very different Carnegie with a changed coaching team and several new players on the field and expect a tough challenge.
#AmpthillRUFC #CarnegieRugby #ChampRugby
Ampthill make four changes to the starting line-up and three on the bench for the first visit of the Knights to Dillingham Park.
Matt Collins comes in at tighthead and Shay Kerry returns in the second row. Kevin Barrett takes over the nine jersey in a rotation of the scrum-half pool with Serafin Bordoli returning to the starting fifteen at inside centre.
On the bench, Syd Blackmore and Will Allman are among the forwards replacements with Will Foster covering the back three.
“We were all very disappointed with last week’s effort against a good Ealing side and if we play like that against a very experienced Doncaster Knights it will be a long afternoon.
I’m looking forward to welcoming Clive Griffiths back to Dillingham Park where he used to help out with the coaching. Clive has built a very good side that has had a dreadful run with injuries but they are now getting most of those players back. They did a really good job on Nottingham last week and thoroughly deserved the win.
The Knights have a very big and experienced forward pack and a backline that play a flowing and attacking brand of rugby. They have been in the competition for a long time and understand how to win on the road – we will need to be at our very best if we are going to get anything out of the game.”
Store: Match Store
Match Gallery: Match Report
Doncaster Squad
Robin Hislop
Ben Hunter
Colin Quigley
Morgan Eames
Matt Challinor
Tom Calladine
Wian Conradie
Ollie Stedman
Tom James
Sam Olver
Tyson Lewis
Charlie Foley
Lloyd Hayes
Howard Packman
Cameron Cowell
George Edgson
Andrew Foster
Joe Sproston
Rory Pitman
Fotu Lokotui
Sam Pocklington
Kyle Evans
Jack Roberts
Ampthill make just one change from the side that won at Goldington Road against Bedford on Boxing Day with Kevin Barrett replacing Leon Fukofuka.
Ampthill are pleased to be able to welcome one of the most senior officials in the country, with International and Premiership referee Matthew Carley being given the whistle for the afternoon on his first visit to Dillingham Park.
“We have played all the contenders with the exception of the Falcons, and Coventry are definitely the best side we have played this season. They have recruited a lot of experienced players from the Premiership and the Pro 14 so the challenge couldn’t be any bigger.
It’s great to be able to name a side with only one change to the starting fifteen so we will look forward to the Mob fans being our sixteenth man and hope to make it a more competitive game than the last two games we have had against Coventry”
Store: Match Store
Match Gallery: Match Report
Coventry Squad
James Gibbons
Joe Buckle
Phil Boulton
James Voss
Alex Woolford
Ben Nutley
Luke Wallace
Ryan Burrows
Tom Kessell
Tony Fenner
Max Trimble
Will Owen
Rob Knox
Andy Bulumakau
Henry Purdy
Jimmy Stevens
Toby Trinder
Luc Jeannot
Adam Peters
Nile Dacres
Pete White
Rory Jennings
Andy Forsyth
Ealing are looking to retain the trophy this season, and are certainly in fine form – they come into this game with a record of Played 4, Won 4 in the Championship Cup and currently sit second in the Greene King IPA Championship. News of further reinforcements to their squad this week underpins their ambitions.
By contrast, Ampthill had a bad day at Coventry last Saturday and the starting fifteen will be looking to rectify last weeks performance.
“Ealing as the current Championship Cup holders represent a massive challenge for a club of our size, and we are honoured to host such an ambitious club visiting Dillingham Park this Saturday.
After a poor day at the office last Saturday, we have given most of the squad the opportunity to put right a number of wrongs from last week’s performance and we hope they take the opportunity afforded to them to make a substantial improvement on last week’s performance.”
Store: Match Store
Match Gallery: Match Report
Ealing Squad
Jordan Els
Matt Cornish
Elliot Millar Mills
Ben West
James Cannon
Kieran Murphy
Andrew Durutalo
Rayn Smid
Jordan Burns
Craig Willis
Reon Joseph
Harry Sloan
Jack Tovey
James Cordy Redden
Tommy Bell
Alun Walker
Josh Pieterse
Craig Trenier
Dave McKern
Oli Robinson
Craig Hampson
Steven Shingler
David Johnston
After what seems a long break since Ampthill's narrow defeat to Jersey Reds at Dillingham Park in the Greene King IPA Championship, the 1st XV resume their RFU Championship Cup campaign with an away trip to Coventry Rugby Club.
Ampthill were given a rude awakening to Level 2 Rugby when Coventry visited Dillingham Park in September with a 17-47 defeat. Having finished the first block of cup fixtures with a record of Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2. Coventry, by comparison, finished with a record of Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1. Ampthill's highlight was a surprise away win to Bedford Blues whilst Coventry's only low point has been a narrow defeat to Ealing Trailfinders (Current Cup Holders).
With most of Ampthill's dual-registered players being recalled this week for Premiership Shield duties, the squad will be more familiar to the traveling Maroon and Gold supporters, with Sam Hanks and Jarryd Sage returning from injury in the centres. Leon Fukofuka and Luvuyo Pupuma make their full debut for Ampthill. Louis Grimoldby assumes responsibility of Captain with Dave Ward, Darryl Veenendaal and Billy Johnson on the bench.
“It’s been a long first block of the season and the squad have enjoyed their week off. We have chosen to make a number of changes to the side that were maybe unlucky to come out of the Jersey game with only a losing bonus point, and to give a number of others a chance to stake a claim for a place in the starting side going forward.
Coventry have had an excellent start to the season, and it will give us a chance to see how far we have progressed since we played them at Dillingham Park in our first ever game at level two.”
Store: Match Store
Match Gallery: Match Report
Coventry Squad
Toby Trinder
Joe Buckle
Luc Jeannot
James Voss
Alex Woolford
Ben Nutley
Jack Ram
Senitiki
Will Flinn
Tony Fenner
Henry Purdy
Will Owen
Rob Knox
James Martin
Dan Lewis
Jimmy Stevens
James Gibbons
Gareth Denman
Nile Dacres
Ben Adams
Pete White
Will Maisey
David Halaifonua
