Bees welcome Esher

Posted on Oct 8, 2010 in Rugby News

The Bees face newly promoted Esher this weekend at Damson Park (Sunday 10th October, Kick Off 3pm).

Esher have surprised many with their strong start to the Championship season, winning three of their first six fixtures, but not Bees’ Assistant Coach, Eugene Martin. “They’re a good side”, he explained, “they did extremely well last year in their promotion season and have just carried that forward into the new Championship campaign”.

Martin also maintains that the Bees have been playing well without getting the results they need. “Building on the passion and commitment shown by the squad last week, Sunday’s game against Esher will be another challenging and gruelling match. With Esher coming off the back of a good win against London Welsh last week and sitting in a top eight position, we will have to be at our very best to halt their current momentum”.

The Bees’ injury list has shortened somewhat, but are without, for the second week running, Simon Hunt and John Brake who, along with Bees’ Director of Rugby Russell Earnshaw, are all still in Delhi with the England Sevens Commonwealth Games Rugby Squad.

Rod Petty again captains the Bees in the absence of Matt Long, whilst Jack Preece comes in at Hooker for Greg Sammons who, on the conclusion of his short-term contract, has moved to Italy to pursue his playing career.

The Birmingham & Solihull team to face Esher on Sunday is as follows:- 1. Rob Dugard, 2. Jack Preece, 3. Leo Halavatau, 4. Semisi Taulava, 5. Adrian Griffiths, 6. Mike Denbee, 7. Jack Bentall, 8. Adam Clayton, 9. Jimmy Williams, 10. Rod Petty (c), 11. Ant Elliott, 12. Will Lawson, 13. Ben Barkley, 14. Tomasi Tanumi and 15. Tom Foden. On the bench:- 16. Nglau Tau, 17. Joe Reid, 18. Mauro Sperandio, 19. Dan Sanderson, 20. Sam Robinson, 21. Ed Binham and 22. Ollie Grove.

Bedford Blues take to the road after impressive win

Posted on Oct 4, 2010 in Rugby News

Bedford Blues take to the road again tomorrow as they travel west to face last season’s play-off finalists Bristol.

The Blues go into the game off the back of an impressive 41-12 win over Moseley, but Bristol have also found their form after winning their first game of the season 21-7 against Cornish Pirates.

The Blues have been hit by more injuries with Ollie Dodge facing time on the sidelines after he had to have 18 stitches to his head after taking a knock early in the game against Moseley. It has also been confirmed that Brendan Burke faces six weeks out with medial knee ligament damage. Duncan Taylor is already out with a broken collarbone, while Robin Boot and Ben Lewitt are both long term absentees.

There was some good news though after Ian Vass and Sam Walsh both competed in action on Wednesday night when a development side defeated the RAF 38-5. Vass completed a half while Walsh racked up 60 minutes of valuable game time on the pitch.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s encounter Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer said: “We’ve certainly been enjoying our rugby of late, but we can’t afford to take anything for granted especially at the Memorial Ground.

“People may be looking at Bristol as a team in descent, but that would be very foolish. They are more of a sleeping giant and everyone in this league knows that they have a squad that is more than capable of competing and I’m sure they will be up there come the play-offs.

“From our point of view we have been struggling a bit this week with injuries and are pretty much at the bare bones of the squad. That said, the lads have stepped up a gear in training and I know that they will be champing at the bit to get on the pitch and have a real crack at Bristol.”

Rayer has made a number of enforced changes to the side that started against Moseley with. As he did during the game, James Pritchard comes on to start on the wing while Tom Bedford moves to outside centre and Ian Vass pulls on the number 12 shirt for the first time this season. There is also a five/two split on the bench with Sam Walsh named in the replacements.

Starting line-up:

15. Edd Thrower
14. James Short
13. Tom Bedford
12. Ian Vass
11. James Pritchard
10. Myles Dorrian
9. Darryl Veenendaal

1. Laurence Ovens
2. Dan Richmond
3. Phil Boulton
4. Paul Tupai
5. Alex Rae
6. Gregor Gillanders
7. Will Fraser
8. Jackson Wray

Replacements: Joe Clark, Dan Seal, Sam Walsh, Sean Tomes, Mike Howard, Will Chudley, Nick Walshe.

Welsh name 26 man squad for Esher game

Posted on Oct 1, 2010 in Rugby News

London Welsh head coach Phil Greening has named a 26-man squad for tonight’s derby with Esher at Molesey Road (7:45pm).

Welsh go into the game on the back of a bonus-point win over Rotherham Titans at Old Deer Park that lifted the Exiles up to third in the table. Esher have lost their last three, but did take the scalp of Bristol in round 2 on  home turf, and Greening knows that form will count for nothing at Molesey Road.

Greening said: “Each game is a new challenge and we are expecting a physical high temp game. We are solely concentrating on our standards and to be the best we can be on the night, if we do that then we deem ourselves successful regardless of the score.”

Esher will have had one day’s extra preparation time, having travelled to Nottingham last Friday with Welsh having entertained Rotherham the following day, but Greening is unconcerned.

He said: “The quick turnaround is good for us especially as we are itching to put all the wrongs right from last Saturday, so Friday couldn’t come any quicker for the players.

“We concentrate on the small details so it’s been even better to bring the intensity of our week down to focus on our small performance details.”

The prospect of playing under lights is also one that Greening and the players are looking forward to.

He added: “The players are really excited about facing Esher and the buzz that a Friday night game brings. For me, it was the best; I loved playing away games as it felt that it was you against them all, so made it more exciting and enjoyable. Especially if you win!”

London Welsh 26- man squad v Esher – kick off 7:45pm at Molesey Road

Lee Beach, Marc Breeze, Errie Claassens, Matthew Corker, Josh Drauniniu, Liam Gibson, Michael Hills, Michael Holford, Waisea Luveniyali, Vili Ma’asi, Jonathan Mills, Shawn Pittman, Mike Powell, Martin Purdy, Gordon Ross, Nick Runciman, Ben Russell, Paul Sampson, Dominic Shabbo, Ben Stevenson, Epi Taione, Aled Thomas, Hudson Tonga’uiha, Lorne Ward, Simon Whatling, Dan Williams

Three cited in Round 4 of Premiership

Posted on Sep 30, 2010 in Rugby News

Tim Payne, Brett Deacon and Chris Budgen have been cited for offences in last weekend’s Aviva Premiership Round 4.

Payne has been charged with stamping/trampling on an opponent during the London Wasps v Gloucester Rugby game at Kingsholm, contrary to Law 10(4)(b), following a report by the citing officer Alan Mansell. Deacon has been charged with striking Payne, contrary to Law 10(4)(a).

Budgen of Exeter Chiefs has been charged with striking Harlequins’ Mike Brown during the match at The Twickenham Stoop following a report by the citing officer Budge Pountney.

Payne, Deacon and Budgen have been summoned to appear before an RFU Disciplinary Panel of Christopher Quinlan (chairman), Mike Curling and John Doubleday at the Holiday Inn, Swindon, on Tuesday, October 5 (2pm)

Eifion Roberts out for season

Posted on Sep 21, 2010 in Rugby News

Sale Sharks have been rocked by the news that Prop Forward Eifion Lewis Roberts may miss the remainder of the season after damaging his ACL joint in his knee last Friday evening.

Head Coach Mike Brewer said, “ It’s not looking good for Eifion. He’s done his ACL. We need to get the swelling down over the next week or so and he will then need knee reconstruction surgery.”