Chris Idehen will make his first appearance of the season for Bournville in Saturday’s National Two West match against Redruth at Avery Fields (2.30pm).
The back-row forward was ruled out of the programme of pre-season matches having been concussed in a training and his scheduled comeback for Bournville Blues last weekend was scuppered by Pershore’s decision to concede the Counties Midlands Three West (South) match.
Idehen will now start on the openside flank against Redruth in place of Adam Shaw who limped off during last week’s narrow defeat at Macclesfield.
Idehen is one of six changes to the starting XV this weekend with Owen Williams returning at fly-half and James Mann, who suffered a gashed head against Devonport Services two weeks ago, at fly-half.
Rob Knox, who started at full-back at Macclesfield, switches back to the centre to partner Sam Grimshaw this week.
In the pack hooker Ben Rhodes and tighthead prop Stef Thorp both start having been replacements at Macclesfield.
Lock Nick Murphy, who was unavailable last week, comes into the second row for his first start of the season.
On the bench Ben O’Sullivan, who was a travelling reserve last week, returns to the matchday squad alongside front row pair Jake Bailey and Chad Thorne, who both started at Macclesfield.
Redruth will be making their second visit his year to Avery Fields having returned to Cornwall with five points having snatched a 29-25 win by scoring 26 unanswered points in the final 35 minutes of the match.
That win completed a double for Redruth who edged the first meeting of the season 28-26 at the Recreation Ground earlier in the season.
Bournville | 15 Owen Williams; 14 Dan Rundle, 13 Rob Knox, 12 Sam Grimshaw, 11 Nathan Decalmer; 10 James Mann, 9 Freddie Morgan; 1 James Burgoyne, 2 Ben Rhodes, 3 Stef Thorp, 4 Nick Murphy, 5 Ben Meakin (C), 6 Louis Mifsud, 7 Chris Idehen, 8 Jasper Smith.
Replacements | 16 Jake Bailey, 17 Chad Thorne, 18 Ben O’Sullivan, 19 Joe Nellany, 20 Alex Evans.
*Bournville Blues head down the M5 to take on Worcester IIs at Westons Fields (3pm) in their third Counties Midlands Three West (South) match of the season.
After the disappointment of Pershore’s forfeiture last week, the Blues will be hoping that the outcome of Saturday’s match will be decided on the pitch.
