Weaver returns to face Students

Hooker James Weaver returns from injury as one of three changes to Bournville’s side for Saturday’s National Two West match against Loughborough Students at Avery Fields (2.30pm).

Weaver missed the defeats against Redruth and Luctonians but returns to partner James Burgoyne and Stef Thorp in the middle of the front-row against the Students.

Lock Nick Murphy, who made his comeback from a hand injury as a replacement against Redruth, starts this week with Josh Bloomfield partnering Alex Grove in the centre.

It will be Bloomfield’s first start since the narrow defeat at Old Redcliffians in September and only his second since he joined Bournville from Stratford during the summer.

Murphy’s return allows Louis Mifsud, who has started in the second-row in the last two games, to switch back to the blindside flank.

Ollie Stone, Lewis Hall and Sam Grimshaw, who were all starters against Redruth, are on the bench this week along with Rhys Williams who returns to the squad following his recovery from injury.

Loughborough arrive at Avery Fields with an identical playing record to Bournville in recent weeks – one win and three defeats – but their victory was a 70-0 walloping of Dudley Kingswinford.

Matches between Bournville and the Students have been close and often high-scoring affairs including a 38-38 draw in last season’s encounter at Avery Fields.

The five National League meetings between the clubs have produced 294 points with Loughborough’s 31-27 victory in October being the largest winning margin.

This week the teams will run out through a guard of honour formed by youngsters from Bournville’s Under-Sevens team, an important connection between all levels of the club.

There will  be action on and off the pitch at Avery Fields on Saturday with the Scotland v France and England v Wales Guinness Six Nations matches screened live in the clubhouse.

Please note that Bournville Blues scheduled home Midlands Reserve League Division One match against Nuneaton has been cancelled as Nuneaton are struggling to raise a team.

Bournville | 15 Owen Williams; 14 Alex Evans, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Josh Bloomfield, 11 Nathan Decalmer; 10 Jacob Fewtrell, 9 Jay West; 1 James Burgoyne, 2 James Weaver, 3 Stef Thorp, 4 Ben Meakin, 5 Nick Murphy, 6 Louis Mifsud, 7 Chris Idehen, 8 Jonjo Fanning.

Replacements | 16 Ollie Stone, 17 Ryan Smeilus, 18 Lewis Hall, 19 Rhys Williams, 20 Sam Grimshaw.

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