CHINNOR head to Henley Hawks in a confident mood as they bid to beat their local rivals in an away league game for the first time tomorrow, writes JACK JOHNSON.
Matt Williams’s side racked up seven tries in a 47-10 win over London Irish Wild Geese in their National League 2 South opener last weekend.
They make three changes, with Ben Manning moving to the second row to partner Nathan Hannay, who steps up from the bench.
Player-coach Richard Thorpe is handed his first start at blindside flanker.
Williams said: “Local derbies always have an added bit of excitement and Chinnor have never won a league game at Henley, but the guys are going there full of confidence.”
Hawks were beaten 23-18 at Redruth six days ago and head coach Pete Davies predicts a testing encounter.
“Chinnor are hot favourites,” he said. “They had an excellent start and have a more experienced squad, so they will be tough to beat.”
Henley make changes in the pack, with David Hyde and Connor Morrison unavailable, so Jake Albon and George Lane start.
There is also an Oxfordshire derby in South West 1 East, with Oxford Harlequins hosting Witney.
Noel O’Brian and Guy Fairburn form a new half-back partnership for Quins, Ed Yeats comes in on the wing and Jack Robinson switches to centre.
Ben Henderson and Adam Neal start as flankers.
Banbury, meanwhile, are away to Chippenham.
l BANBURY youngsters George Grieve and Jacob Turner have signed pro deals with Moseley and Bedford Blues’ academy squads respectively.
TOMORROW’S TEAMS
Chinnor (v Henley Hawks, away): Goss, Hibberd, Barnes, Armitage, Lamont, Hopkin, Goodfellow, Price, Townsend, M Darlington, Hannay, Manning, Thorpe, Messum, Burns. Reps: Berry, Tyack, Phipps, Osazuwa, Fatialofa.
Henley Hawks (v Chinnor, home): Comben, Andre, Flynn, O’Neill, Fessal, Butler, Jackson, Cook, Emery, Mountout-Alexis, Clements, Albon, Lane, Hall, Watkins. Reps: Chamnaoui, Philpott, Davey, Haynes, Perry.
Oxford Harlequins (v Witney, home): Roberts, Crowe, Robinson, Fisilau, Yeats, Fairburn, O’Brian, Edney, Davies, Boulton, Purchase(capt), Ojo, Henderson, Neal, Latu. Reps: Barlow, Van Dijk, Campbell, Grant, Watkinson, Milton, Craig.
Witney: from Richens, Harris, Burke, Mortimer, Webb, Coe, Collins, Bennett, Campbell, Lamb, Thomas, Godfrey, Lambourne, Collins, Clarke, Wilson, Jenkins, Dyde.
Banbury (v Chippenham, away): Titchener, Daniels, Manley, Stoop, Boyle, Stevenson, E Phillips, Paniagua, Isham, Kay, Brock, Harden, Samuel, Mills, C Phillips. Reps: O'Dwyer, Burge, Gandy.
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