Sam Grimshaw, Stef Thorp and Jasper Smith return to Bournville’s starting XV for Saturday’s National Two West match against Bristol-based Old Redcliffians at Avery Fields (2.30pm).
Grimshaw returns to partner Joe Jenkins in the centre in place of Joe Nellany in the only change to the back division that was on duty at Exeter University.
Thorp, who was on the bench last week, comes in at tighthead prop in place of Chad Thorne with Smith starting at number eight in a reshuffled back row.
Malta international Louis Mifsud, who was at number eight last week, switches to the blindside flank with Ben O’Sullivan moving to the bench.
Prop James Burgoyne returns to the matchday squad as a replacement having had two outing for the Blues in recent weeks and lock Harry Dawson retains his place in the starting line-up after a standout performance against the Exeter students.
Saturday’s match pits eight v seventh in the table with Old Redcliffians having a similar record to Bournville this season. Their four wins have all come at home but they have yet to win away although they did draw at Macclesfield to earn two valuable points on the road. They were unbeaten at home until last Saturday when they fell to league leaders Camborne – the only visiting side to win at Avery Fields this season – 57-19.
Last season’s matches both went the way of the home side with Bournville winning 37-26 at Avery Fields in January and Old Redcliffians edging a 22-18 victory at home early in the season.
In the 2022/23 campaign Old Redcliffians completed the double with a 24-20 win on their first visit to Avery Fields and 33-14 at Scotland Lane in the last match of the season.
Bournville | 15 Owen Williams; 14 Nathan Decalmer, 13 Joe Jenkins, 12 Sam Grimshaw, 11 Alex Evans; 10 Rhys Williams, 9 Freddie Morgan; 1 Clarkson McLeod, 2 Ben Rhodes, 3 Stef Thorp, 4 Harry Dawson, 5 Ben Meakin (C), 6 Louis Mifsud, 7 Adam Shaw, 8 Jasper Smith.
Replacements | 16 James Weaver, 17 James Burgoyne, 18 Ben O’Sullivan 19 Rob Knox, 20 Mikey Ho.
