Henley Hawks vs Bury St. Edmunds – Saturday, December 6th, kick-off 3pm
Following a week’s rest, Henley Hawks are back in home action tomorrow (Saturday) with old rivals Bury St. Edmunds the visitors to Dry Leas. Kick-off is 3pm.
With three games to go until the Christmas break, Luke Allen’s side will be hoping for a turnaround in fortunes after three successive defeats which has left them second from bottom of National 2 East. Having made changes to the coaching team, which has seen the addition of former England 7s star Chris Cracknell coming on board as Defence Coach, Henley supporters will be hoping that Cracknell’s addition will be the spark the team needs to put together a run of form.
Bury made changes themselves before the season begun with the addition of former Blackheath Director of Rugby James Shanahan replacing Jacob Ford at the helm, and this change has certainly seen an upturn in their fortunes. Currently lying in fourth place in National 2 East with seven victories and four losses to their name, the Suffolk side will undoubtedly prove to be another stern test for the Hawks. Last season the two sides each won their respective home fixtures with Henley coming out on top, 20-17 back in September last year before Bury got their revenge just before Christmas with a 41-17 triumph.
In terms of team news, Allen makes a raft of changes to the side that faced Havant a fortnight ago. In the pack, there is a return to the side for Fin Basil who has been out in Australia. He comes in at blindside flanker with Liam Goodison switching back to the second row to partner Ben Elsey. The front row has a settled look with Louis Bailey continuing at loosehead prop.
In the backs, Max Titchener returns to the side at fly half having had a spell in the 2nd XV. Elsewhere, there is a new centre partnership with Jimmy Leach partnering with Callum Jones, who returns from injury at 13. Connor Hayhow switches to the left wing with Seb Scott also making his long-awaited return from injury on the right wing. George Wood starts at fullback.
The provisional Hawks side to face Bury St. Edmunds is as follows:
- Louis Bailey, 2. Spencer Hayhow ©, 3. Moses Fakatou, 4. Ben Elsey, 5. Liam Goodison, 6. Fin Basil, 7. Scott White, 8. Will Benning, 9. Leo Webb, 10. Max Titchener, 11. Connor Hayhow, 12. Jimmy Leach, 13. Callum Jones, 14. Seb Scott, 15. George Wood
Replacements: 16. Nelly Kinniburgh, 17. Luke Shpylka, 18. Morgan Poiner, 19. Sam Lunnon, 20. Toby Howe
Elsewhere this weekend, the 2nd XV are away to Gosford All Blacks with a 2pm kick-off, and the 3s are at home to Slough, also with a 2pm kick-off. Henley Hawks Women have a rest weekend.
