James Weaver will captain a much-changed Bournville in Saturday’s National Two West match against Chester at Avery Fields (2.30pm).
Hooker Weaver, who is club captain, will lead the side in the absence of Chris Idehen who has been handed a one match suspension under the RFU’s totting-up process after receiving three yellow cards for foul play this season.
Weaver’s inclusion is one of seven personnel changes to the side beaten at Clifton last time out with Stef Thorp also returning to the front row at tighthead prop.
Matt Spence is recalled to the second row for his second appearance of the season with Ben Meakin switching to the back-row where Jonjo Fanning returns at number eight in place of Idehen. This will be Spence’s home debut with his previous appearances coming at Redruth last season and Exeter University in February.
Rhys Williams, who was unavailable for the trip to Clifton, will start at fly-half in place of his brother, Owen, who switches back to full-back, with Jacob Fewtrell again ruled out by a torn hamstring.
Nathan Decalmer, who wore the 15 shirt at Clifton, returns to the left wing with Alex Evans, who suffered a back spasm in the warm-up two weeks ago, restored to the right wing.
Evans’s return allows Sam Grimshaw to return to the centre to partner the experienced Alex Grove who returns after being unavailable for the last two matches.
Mark Coulson and Josh Bloomfield, the centre pairing at Clifton, are named as replacements this week along with back-row forward Lewis Hall.
Bournville go into Saturday’s match looking to avenge a narrow defeat at Chester in December and to secure an eighth win at Avery Fields this season.
This will be Chester’s second visit to Avery Fields with Bournville winning the first 22-14 in December 2021 with a side that included just two players – Weaver and James Burgoyne – who will be on duty this time.
Bournville | 15 Owen Williams; 14 Alex Evans, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Sam Grimshaw, 11 Nathan Decalmer, 10 Rhys Williams, 9 Jay West, 1 James Burgoyne, 2 James Weaver (C), 3 Stef Thorp, 4 Matt Spence, 5 Nick Murphy, 6 Ben Meakin, 7 Louis Mifsud, 8 Jonjo Fanning.
Replacements | 16 Ollie Stone, 17 Clarkson McLeod, 18 Lewis Hall, 19 Mark Coulson, 20 Josh Bloomfield.
Bournville Blues head to Hinckley on Saturday (3pm) with a side that includes Will Aylen, who started for the first team at Clifton.
Aylen played on the left wing in that match but switches to the centre this week to partner Matt Shepperd.
Joe Nellany, a late withdrawal from the bench at Clifton because of injury, starts at fly-half for the Blues.
Bournville Blues | 15 Niall Demel; 14 Aaron Esiri, 13 Matt Shepperd, 12 Will Aylen, 11 Henry Corbett; 10 Joe Nellany, 9 Lockie Moeller; 1 Eddie Dempsey, 2 Connor Thorneycroft, 3 Mantas Urbanavicius, 4 Harry Belcher, 5 Sam Beckford, 6 Jamie Avery, 7 Harry Scarlett, 8 Jamie Allison.
Replacements | 16 Phil Valegatu, 17 Abraham Jones.
