Bristol vs Nottingham – team news

Posted on Dec 9, 2010 in Rugby News

After 15 consecutive weeks of RFU Championship rugby, Bristol Rugby entertains Nottingham Rugby in the first round in the British and Irish Cup on Friday evening at the Memorial Stadium kick off 7.45pm.

The Bristol coaching staff has selected a team showing a mix of youth and experience. Academy Coach Matt Salter is “running the show” this week and explained “the game is a great opportunity to select a different blend of players. We are able to give good game time to some players who have not featured too heavily so far this season, to players returning from injury and some new players from our Opportunity Program and they are all really looking forward to it”.

In the backs Jack Tovey starts at full back with Anthony Elliott and George Watkins on the wings. In the centre, Jack Gadd partners Ed Barnes who captains the side for the first time. Fijian International Nicky Little plays at No.10 with Sam Alford at scrum half.
In the forwards there are Bristol Rugby debuts for 2 Dings Crusaders players, Tim Brockett and Gavin Curry. Brockett starts in the front row alongside the fit again Ross Johnston and the vastly experienced Darren Crompton.

In the second row Curry partners Darren Barry with the back row made up of Jonathan Brandling-Harris, Jamie Miller and Bristol Academy and UWE Student Marco Mama.

In the replacements there is experience in the form of David Blaney, Mark Irish and Robbie Shaw, plus Bristol Academy players Mark Davies and Chris Ashwin. There are also places on the bench for Opportunity Program players Mitch Eadie from Filton College and Dean Taylor-Menzies from Clifton.

With the weather forecast showing an increase in temperatures in the Bristol area over Thursday and Friday, Bristol Rugby remain confident that the game will go ahead as planned.

Bristol Rugby team to play at home to Nottingham Rugby on Friday10th December at 7.45 pm.

Jack Tovey, Anthony Elliott, Jack Gadd, Ed Barnes (c), George Watkins, Nicky Little, Sam Alford; Tim Brockett, Ross Johnston, Darren Crompton, Gavin Curry, Darren Barry, Jonathan Brandling-Harris, Jamie Miller, Marco Mama.

Replacements.

David Blaney, Mark Irish, Mitch Eadie, Dean Taylor-Menzies, Robbie Shaw, Mark Davies and Chris Ashwin.

Saints team vs London Irish

Posted on Nov 26, 2010 in Rugby News

Northampton Saints have named the team for tomorrow night’s sold out Aviva Premiership Rugby Round 9 clash against London Irish.

The two teams are dominating the Aviva Premiership Rugby league table and scoring charts as the competition edges ever closer to the half-way stage, and unsurprisingly Friday’s game has seen Franklin’s Gardens be declared ‘full’ days in advance.

Director of rugby Jim Mallinder says that it is a big game for the club and that London Irish should be treated with plenty of respect.

“Top-of-the-table clashes are always big games, but these are the games that we want to be involved in as they show we are heading in the right direction,” he said. “It will be a challenging evening for us. London Irish have been playing some good rugby this season and deserve their position at the top end of the league table.

“Their forwards and midfielders have been carrying the ball powerfully and their strike runners out wide have been scoring plenty of tries. We will certainly have to be focused right from the first whistle if we want a positive result.”

Mallinder also thanked the fans for filling Franklin’s Gardens in advance.

“The fans have really made their presence felt this season for the big matches, and it matters a lot to the players and coaches that the stadium is already sold out,” he added.

If you haven’t got your ticket for Friday night’s game you can still follow the action in a number of ways. The Saints’ official Facebook page will continue with exclusive match blogs, score updates will be posted every 10 minutes on www.twitter.com/SaintsRugby – which supporters can also access from their mobile phone – while Sky Sports 3 will have coverage from 7:30pm.

You can watch Roger Wilson’s match preview right now on www.PremiershipRugby.tv

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LONDON IRISH
Aviva Premiership Rugby Round 9
Franklin’s Gardens
Friday, November 26th, 2010
Kick off 7:45pm
15 Greig Tonks
14 Jamie Elliott
13 Jon Clarke
12 James Downey
11 Paul Diggin
10 Stephen Myler
9 Ryan Powell
1 Soane Tonga’uiha
2 Brett Sharman
3 Brian Mujati
4 Mark Sorenson
5 Christian Day
6 Phil Dowson (capt)
7 Tom Wood
8 Roger Wilson

Replacements
16 Andy Long
17 Regardt Dreyer
18 Tom Mercey
19 Calum Clark
20 Mark Easter
21 Stuart Commins
22 Shane Geraghty
23 Bruce Reihana

A welcome return to Premiership rugby

Posted on Nov 18, 2010 in Rugby News

Director of rugby Jim Mallinder says that the Northampton Saints players are looking forward to returning to Aviva Premiership Rugby this weekend.

The Saints travel to Edgeley Park on Friday night to play an in-form Sale Sharks outfit on the back of an unbeaten start to their LV= Cup defence, including a 28-3 win over Newport-Gwent Dragons last week.

And as his team looks to continue the form that has taken them to the top end of the Aviva Premiership Rugby table, Mallinder said that the Anglo-Welsh competition has put the squad in good spirits ahead of the next few games.

“The LV= Cup is a good competition for us,” Mallinder said today. “It gives the coaches an opportunity to try some new things and allows players time to show what they can do in the first team. Jamie Elliott in particular impressed against Saracens a fortnight ago and when he came off the bench against the Dragons, and deserves his chance in the Premiership.

“We had two positive results against Saracens and the Dragons, and now we’re looking to take that momentum back into Aviva Premiership Rugby.

“Edgeley Park is a tough place to play and Sale have been going well this season, especially at home. The Sharks have showed how much strength in depth they’ve got by putting together some good wins in all competitions recently and Mike Brewer has them playing an effective style of rugby.

“However we’ve been playing well recently too, and I have confidence that the team we’ve selected can go to Stockport and get a positive result.”

In team news, Jamie Elliott makes his Aviva Premiership Rugby debut on the wing and Greig Tonks returns at full back, while Roger Wilson and Bruce Reihana have recovered from their respective leg and finger injuries to take their places on the replacements bench.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY SALE SHARKS
Aviva Premiership Rugby Round 8
Edgeley Park
Friday, November 19th, 2010
Kick off 7:45pm

15 Greig Tonks
14 Jamie Elliott
13 Jon Clarke
12 James Downey
11 Paul Diggin
10 Stephen Myler
9 Ryan Powell
1 Soane Tonga’uiha
2 Brett Sharman
3 Brian Mujati
4 Mark Sorenson
5 Christian Day
6 Calum Clark
7 Tom Wood
8 Phil Dowson (capt)

Replacements
16 Andy Long
17 Regardt Dreyer
18 Tom Mercey
19 Mark Easter
20 Roger Wilson
21 Stuart Commins
22 Shane Geraghty
23 Bruce Reihana

Sean Marsden reclaims 15 shirt for Bristol

Posted on Oct 15, 2010 in Rugby News

Bristol Rugby play at home to Nottingham at the Memorial Stadium on Sunday 17th October at 3 pm.

In the backs Paul Hull makes just one change from last week’s starting line-up at Worcester. Full-back Sean Marsden has recovered from injury and reclaims the No.15 shirt with Jack Tovey dropping to the bench.

In the forward, Mark Irish and Mako Vunipola are the props with Ross Johnston (who came off the bench at Worcester) starting as hooker for the first time since injury in April.

Mariano Sambucetti replaces the injured Ben Glyn and partners Roy Winters in the second row.
Captain Iain Grieve starts at No.8 in place of the injured Dan Montagu and is joined in the back-row by James Merriman and Darren Barry.

Amongst the Replacements for the first time this season is Academy player Marco Mama who is also a member of the Scholarship Scheme the Club runs with the University of the West of England.

Bristol Rugby team to play at home to Nottingham on Sunday 17th October at 3 pm.

Sean Marsden, Jack Adams, Ed Barnes, Junior Fatialofa, George Watkins, Nicky Little, Richard Bolt; Mark Irish, Ross Johnston, Mako Vunipola, Mariano Sambucetti, Roy Winters, Darren Barry, James Merriman, Iain Grieve (C)
Ollie Hayes, Wayne Thompson, Jamie Miller, Marco Mama, Sam Alford, Adrian Jarvis and Jack Tovey.

Falcons field changed team to face Bourgoin

Posted on Oct 8, 2010 in English Rugby, Heineken Cup, Premiership

Ally Hogg captains a much changed line up to the one that narrowly lost to Harlequins last Saturday. The starting line up welcomes back the likes of Alex Tait, Gcobani Bobo, Micky Young, Brent Wilson and Luke Eves as well as handing Mark Wilson, Joe Graham, Micky Ward and Glen Townson their first starts of the season.

Whilst Jeremy Manning has kept his place in the first team, he has been moved to fly half with Alex Tait filling in at fullback. After his impressive performance at centre in the development team, Bobo partners Luke Eves in a much changed back line. Micky Young also comes back into scrum half as Chris Pilgrim drops to the bench.

Swinson, Pennycook and Tim Ryan all drop down to the bench for Glen Townson, Mark Wilson and Micky Ward respectively, whilst Brent Wilson and Joe Graham come in for the injured Will Welch and Rob Vickers.

James Fitzpatrick and Joel Hodgson have been rewarded for their impressive form in the development team by being given a place on the bench and could make their debuts if brought on.

15 ALEX TAIT
14 LUKE FIELDEN
13 GCOBANI BOBO
12 LUKE EVES
11 CHARLIE AMESBURY
10 JEREMY MANNING
9 MICKY YOUNG
1 GRANT SHIELLS
2 JOE GRAHAM
3 MICKY WARD
4 FILIPO LEVI
5 GLEN TOWNSON
6 BRENT WILSON
7 MARK WILSON
8 ALLY HOGG (CAPTAIN)

16 KIERAN BROOKES
17 DARREN FEARN
18 TIM RYAN
19 TIM SWINSON
20 REDFORD PENNYCOOK
21 CHRIS PILGRIM
22 JAMES FITZPATRICK
23 JOEL HODGSON