The ISRFC Lambs have named their side to face the RFU Midlands Counties U18s at Uppingham School on Sunday.
The 13.00 kick off sees seven players make their Lambs debuts, with a further four debutants waiting on the bench to make their first appearances for the men in pink.
The captaincy for the game passes over to Wisbech Grammar School hooker Oliver Short, who was on the replacements bench in that thrilling last minute winner against Irish Exiles U18 last week.
(ISRFC Lambs v Irish Exiles U18 1st half)
Either side of Short, props Edward Linkogel and Ben Oliphant-Thomson, of Woodhouse Grove and Blundell’s respectively, make their Lambs debuts.
Harry Johnson of Ashville College is promoted from the bench last week to one of the starting lock berths this week, alongside Wellingborough’s Eddie Goss, who makes his debut.
Sam Hudson, the number eight with the footballing skills of an outside half, continues to represent St Peter’s York at number 8, while Bloxham’s George Cassell starts at blindside after coming off the bench last week, Blundell’s Charlie Widler makes his debt on the openside.
The half backs are unchanged from that thrilling victory on Sunday (you can see the whole game in the embedded videos in this post), Yarm’s Charles Guthrie starts at scrum half with Felsted’s George Hitchcock at fly half.
Pangbourne College’s Will Vaughan has his second start at inside centre, but has a new partner in Plymouth College’s Isaac Rayworth, who makes his first appearance.
Woodhouse Grove’s Alfred Nordgren makes his first appearance on the left wing, with Stamford’s Callum Corbett making his first start on the right after a substitute appearance last week. Nordgren’s schoolmate Mason Knowles makes his debut at full back.
(ISRFC Lambs v Irish Exiles U18 2nd half)
In line to make their debuts from the bench are Caterham’s Cory Nelson, Cheltenham College’s Daniel Ali, Woodhouse Grove’s Louis Fraser, and Royal Hospital School’s Toby Buckland. Meanwhile James Costin-Pratt will appear from the replacements bench for the second week in a row, while Ben Parker, Alec Hampden-Smith, Henry Wills, and Will Hughes all take up positions on the sideline after starting last week.
Watching the above videos of the Lambs’ first game of the season, that stunning 15-13 win over Irish Exiles U18, it is easy to see why the Lambs are such a popular team. Their ‘fast and free’ style of play makes them a pleasure to watch, and makes for a thrilling game of rugby every time. The Midlands Counties U18 side will prove a challenge though, of that there is no doubt.
Buckle in for another thrilling game of rugby!
| ISRFC Lambs U18 XV vs RFU Midlands Counties U18 – Sunday 7th February, Uppingham School, 13.00 | ||
| Pos | Name (Appearances) | School |
| 1 | Edward Linkogel (0) | Woodhouse Grove |
| 2 | Oliver Short (c) (1) | Wisbech Grammar School |
| 3 | Ben Oliphant-Thomson (0) | Blundell’s |
| 4 | Harry Johnson (1) | Ashville College |
| 5 | Eddie Goss (0) | Wellingborough |
| 6 | George Cassell (1) | Bloxham |
| 7 | Charlie Wilder (0) | Blundell’s |
| 8 | Sam Hudson (1) | St Peter’s, York |
| 9 | Charles Guthrie (1) | Yarm |
| 10 | George Hitchcock (1) | Felsted |
| 11 | Alfred Nordgren (0) | Woodhouse Grove |
| 12 | Will Vaughan (1) | Pangbourne College |
| 13 | Isaac Rayworth (0) | Plymouth College |
| 14 | Callum Corbett (1) | Stamford |
| 15 | Mason Knowles (0) | Woodhouse Grove |
| Replacements | ||
| 16 | Ben Parker (1) | RGS Newcastle |
| 17 | Cory Nelsen (0) | Caterham |
| 18 | Daniel Ali (0) | Cheltenham College |
| 19 | Alec Hampden-Smith (1) | Mount Kelly |
| 20 | Henry Wills (1) | Stamford |
| 21 | Louis Fraser (0) | Woodhouse Grove |
| 22 | James Costin-Pratt (1) | Pangbourne College |
| 23 | Toby Buckland (0) | Royal Hospital School |
| 24 | Will Hughes (1) | Berkhamsted |