Full-back Oscar Fawkes-Underwood will make his second league start for Bournville as they resume their Regional One Midlands campaign after the Christmas break with a trip to Gloucestershire to face Drybrook on Saturday (2.15pm).
The 17-year-old Old Swinford Hospital School student made his first start at Dudley Kingswinford in October and has since impressed with his performances off the bench, most recently in the victory at Stourbridge three weeks ago.
Fawkes-Underwood starts this week with Mauro Miller switching to the right wing to replace Alex Evans who has returned to Australia after spending Christmas back in the Midlands.
There are two more changes with Adam Collingwood recalled at centre in place of Henry Harper who has commitments with Birmingham University and George Jewell at blindside flanker in the pack.
Kieran Henderson who started in the back-row at Stourbridge switches to the second row this week to partner captain Ben Meakin with Harry Dawson swapping places with Jewell who came off the bench last time.
Hooker Jamie Harding resumes his loan spell from Birmingham Moseley after he was recalled by the National League One club to help them beat Leicester Lions three weeks ago. Harding has been named as a replacement along with prop Scott Rudge.
Weather permitting this will be Bournville’s first trip to Drybrook’s Mannings Road ground – which is around 500 feet above sea level high in the Forest of Dean – and they go there seeking a ninth straight league win and their fifth in a row on the road.
Bournville were 31-7 when the sides met at Avery Fields in October since when Drybrook have lost seven of their last nine matches with their two victories coming against Dudley Kingswinford and Nuneaton, the two sides below them in the table.
Bournville | 15 Oscar Fawkes-Underwood; 14 Mauro Miller, 13 Sam Grimshaw, 12 Adam Collingwood, 11 Nathan Decalmer; 10 Jacob Fewtrell, 9 Reiss Price; 1 Clarkson McLeod, 2 Ben Rhodes, 3 Jake Thompson, 4 Ben Meakin (C), 5 Kieran Henderson, 6 George Jewell, 7 Adam Shaw, 8 Callum Nicholls.
Replacements | 16 Jamie Harding, 17 Scott Rudge, 18 Harry Dawson.
*New recruit Rhys Williams Goldman will make his debut for Bournville Blues in Saturday’s Counties Two Midlands West (East) match at Harbury.
Williams Goldman, who has arrived from Cambridgeshire club Ely having previously played for Towcestrians, starts for the Blues who beat Harbury 47-12 at Avery Fields in September.
Jonjo Fanning, who took a head knock on his 100th first team appearance against Bridgnorth last month, returns at number eight for the Blues.
Cardiff Met University back-row Harry Sigley will start at blindside flanker with centre Jamie Maynard returning to the squad as a replacement after three months out with an ankle injury.
Bournville Blues | 15 Niall Demel; 14 Ben Fellows, 13 Craig Manning, 12 Jack Mitchell, 11 Stephen Terera; 10 Rhys Williams Goldman, 9 Chris Crutchley; 1 Kieran McGuire, 2 Ben Harper, 3 Sean Kimberley, 4 Harry Belcher, 5 Ollie Morris, 6 Harry Sigley, 7 Myles Hibbs, 8 Jonjo Fanning.
Replacements | 16 Johnson Otuonye, 17 Ben Godley, 18 Jamie Maynard.
After a week of frost, snow and heavy rain conditions will need to be monitored at both Drybrook and Harbury. We will update on any pitch inspections on the website and our social media channels.
