Stefan Thorp will make his first start for Bournville in Saturday’s National Two West match against Camborne at The Rec (2pm).
The experienced tighthead prop has come on as a replacement in the last two weeks having overcome an ankle injury that delayed his debut following a summer move from Stourbridge.
As Kurtis Payne is unavailable for the trip to Cornwall, Thorp moves into the starting XV as one of two changes to the side narrowly beaten by Dings Crusaders last Saturday.
The other change is at scrum-half where Ben Tibbetts starts with Billy McDonough ruled out by a knee injury sustained in the opening exchanges against Dings.
Chris Idehen will again lead the side although first team captain Ryan Smeilus returns to the squad as a replacement this week.
Utility back Rhys Williams also returns to the squad having recovered from the ankle injury he suffered at Loughborough Students last month.
Saturday’s match will be a first-ever meeting between Bournville and Camborne with the Cornish club regaining National League’s status this season after an absence of 27 years.
When leagues were first introduced in 1987/88 Camborne were placed in Area League South – the equivalent of National Two West – while Bournville began league life in North Midlands Two.
Camborne remained in the National Leagues until 1996 and have quickly adapted to life back at this level having won six of their nine league games to date.
They currently sit third in the table having suffered only one home defeat to date – against Dings Crusaders on the opening day of the season – although they were beaten 36-26 by leaders Luctonians last Saturday.
Bournville | 15 Owen Williams; 14 Alex Evans, 13 Sam Grimshaw, 12 Sam Wilson, 11 Nathan Decalmer; 10 Jacob Fewtrell, 9 Ben Tibbetts; 1 James Burgoyne, 2 Ollie Stone, 3 Stefan Thorp, 4 Ben Meakin, 5 Nick Murphy, 6 Ben O’Sullivan, 7 Chris Idehen (C), 8 Jonjo Fanning.
Replacements | 16 Clarkson McLeod, 17 Ryan Smeilus, 18 Louis Mifsud, 19 Rhys Williams, 20 Will Aylen.
Bournville Blues resume their Midlands Reserve League Division One campaign against Lichfield at Avery Fields on Saturday (2.30pm).
Bournville beat Lichfield 71-26 when the sides met at Cooke Fields in September and are currently second in the table, six points behind leaders Dudley Kingswinford but with a game in hand.
Bournville Blues | 15 Niall Demel; 14 Henry Corbett, 13 Ryan O’Neill, 12 Josh Bloomfield, 11 Aaron Esiri; 10 Mark Coulson, 9 Kristers Krupenciks; 1 Kieron Maguire, 2 Dan Hood, 3 Sean Kimberley, 4 Matt Spence, 5 Sam Beckford, 6 Jamie Avery, 7 Harry Belcher, 8 Jack Holdaway.
Replacements | 16 Abraham Jones, 17 Phil Valetagu, 18 Dom Marino, 19 Jamie Allison, 20 Ollie Daffey.
