Bournville have made nine changes to the starting XV for Saturday’s National Two West match at Clifton (2.30pm).
The changes include a new front-row of James Burgoyne, James Weaver and Stef Thorp with Ben Meakin returning to the second-row to captain the side having recovered from the ear injury that ruled him out of last weekend’s narrow defeat by Cinderford.
Malta international Louis Mifsud comes into the back-row having impressed against Cinderford in a swap with Ben O’Sullivan with Kieran Henderson recalled at number eight in place of the unavailable Jasper Smith.
Joe Nellany starts at fly-half in place of James Mann with Mikey Ho replacing the injured Nathan Decalmer (hamstring) on the left wing and Rhys Williams coming in for his brother Owen at full-back.
There is a new name on the bench with Italy Under-19s wing Charlie Whorrod, who has been signed on loan from Championship club Coventry, in line for his debut.
Wing Dan Rundle returns to the squad having recovered from the ankle injury he sustained in the win over Hinckley last month.
Tighthead prop Kurtis Payne is in line to make his seasonal debut off the bench as Chad Thorne is ruled out by the collarbone injury he sustained last week.
The Clifton match marks the halfway point of the season for Bournville who are seeking their first away win of the season but who have collected at least one bonus point from each match on their travels.
Bourns have also conceded least points – 132 – away from home than any other side in the league but Clifton have been beaten only once at Station Road this season and that was a narrow 40-36 defeat against Cinderford.
Clifton have also won all four previous league meetings between the clubs including a 64-40 victory in a try-fest at Station Road in the 2022/23 season and 48-5 there in March.
Bournville | 15 Rhys Williams; 14 Alex Evans, 13 Joe Jenkins, 12 Rob Knox, 11 Mikey Ho; 10 Joe Nellany, 9 Freddie Morgan; 1 James Burgoyne, 2 James Weaver, 3 Stef Thorp, 4 Harry Dawson, 5 Ben Meakin (C), 6 Louis Mifsud, 7 Adam Shaw, 8 Kieran Henderson.
Replacements | 16 Clarkson McLeod, 17 Kurtis Payne, 18 Ben O’Sullivan, 19 Charlie Whorrod, 20 Dan Rundle.
*Bournville resume their Counties Three Midlands West (South) campaign against Pershore at Avery Fields (2pm).
The match was originally scheduled to be away but Pershore had to give up home advantage after they conceded a match at Avery Fields earlier in the season.
The Blues side includes 19-year-old debutant Matt Serrell-Cooke in the centre as they attempt to bounce back from a run of three defeats.
Bournville Blues | 15 Niall Demel; 14 Liam Turner, 13 Luka Rajovic, 12 Matt Serrell-Cooke, 11 Dallas Ororo; 10 George Ayliffe, 9 Reiss Price; 1 Sam Beckford, 2 Jonjo Fanning, 3 Bhairaj Raj, 4 Matt Spence, 5 Dan Lewis, 6 Jamie Avery (C), 7 Ben Harper, 8 Will Taylor.
Replacements | 16 Jack Mitchell, 17 Eddie Wiggins.
