MATT Williams expects another physical battle when Chinnor host Sale this weekend.

The Thame-based side are bidding to make it three games unbeaten in National League 1 after beating Canterbury and drawing at Rosslyn Park.

Chinnor sit fifth in the table and director of rugby Williams is backing his side to continue their recent run.

He said: “Sale will bring a big set-piece.

“They’ve got a very good scrum and line-out – heavy boys – not too dissimilar in structure to ourselves.

“It will be another very physical battle, with 16 big guys going at each other and, depending on the weather, it could be another front forward battle.”

Chinnor are boosted by the return of scrum-half Callum Watson after ten weeks out with a groin problem, while lock Ben Thomas is suspended.

Ehize Ehizode and Cameron Gray are set to continue in the second row.

Henley Hawks are aiming to bounce back at Esher in National 2 South.

Head coach Luke Allen makes three changes to the side that lost 20-17 at home to Clifton last weekend, with Alex Bradley back at No 8 after injury.

Jack Robinson and Samir Kharbouch start on the wing and at centre respectively.

There are also three changes to the Oxford Harlequins team ahead of their trip to Beaconsfield in South West 1 East.

Sheldon Graddon starts at hooker, with Nick Harris and Jack Todd coming into the back row.

Five players come into the Witney squad as they bid to maintain their perfect record in Southern Counties North at home to Stow-on-the-Wold.

Jack Birks, Carl Campbell, Deaglan Bayliss, Ben Fisk and Scott Thomson all make the step up.

Luke Matthews returns for Grove’s match at home to Swindon College Old Boys after spending time away on international duty with Malta.

Ben Nicholl, Rory Gratwohl and Ben Lloyd Jones are also back in the starting line-up.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Chinnor (v Sale, home): from Ashby, Barnes, Ehizode, Elder, Fidler, George, Goss, Gray, Hodson, Kirwan, Manning, Marley, May, McNulty, Laverick, C Ryan, W Ryan, Selway, Southworth, Treviranus, Watson, Worrall, Yawayawa.

Henley Hawks (v Esher, away): Norville, Robinson, Kharbouch, Burrage , Wood, Bolster, Fenley, Cook, Emery, Hughes, Lunnon, Albon, Bordill, Bradley, Lowe. Reps: Primett, Hyde, Mason, Andre, O’Neill.

Oxford Harlequins (v Beaconsfield, away): Cashman, Graddon, Hopkins, Purchase, Myatt, Harris, Todd, White, Burn, Garrett, Henderson, Williams, Yeates, Henderson, Nutt. Reps: Painton, Crowe, Bell.

Witney (v Stow-on-the-Wold, home): Wilson, Harris, Morris, Mortimer, Webb, Coe, Edwards, Bayliss, Birks, Puddle, Morgan, Godfrey, Thomas, Fisk, Gaffney. Reps: Thomson, Campbell, Collins.

Grove (v Swindon College Old Boys, home): Hales, Dixey, Walsh, Roberts, Miles, Birler, Gratwohl, Nicholl, Nicholl, Wiltshire, Lloyd Jones, Clipsham, Nichol, McCarthy, Matthews. Reps: Law, Crook, Monks.

  • OXFORD University’s annual match against the Major Stanley’s XV ended in a 40-40 draw, while the women’s side won 14-10.