The ISRFC Lambs and Crawshay’s Welsh have named their side to face for Saturday’s 14.00 kick off at Ealing Trailfinders.
It is the third Lambs fixture of the season. They began their campaign a fortnight ago with a dramatic late 15-13 victory over Irish Exiles, before they lost 38-7 to the RFU Midlands Counties U18s at Uppingham School last weekend.
Looking ahead to Saturday, the Lambs are still blooding new caps from their 36 man National Squad as they continue to rotate, giving everyone plenty of experience as they build towards their four game tour of Argentina in late March.
Four of last week’s starting XV start again this weekend, Ashville College’s Harry Johnson will make his third appearance for the Lambs in the second row, with Bloxham’s George Cassell also making his third appearance, he starts on the blindside flank.
Isaac Rayworth of Plymouth College is also retained, he makes his second appearance at outside centre. He is joined in the centres by Felsted’s George Hitchcock who, after two starts at fly half, moves to the 12 shirt.
Two of the starting XV are set to make their debuts, Pocklington’s Will Burns earns his first cap at number 8, with Blundells’ Arthur Friend earning a first cap in an unfamiliar position for him, full back.
Nick Atkinson of Giggleswick returns to captain the team after sitting out last week’s encounter, his leadership is sure to be important, particularly as alongside the four new caps there are six players making their first starts.
Caterham’s Cory Nelson and Daniel Ali of Cheltenham College both join Atkinson in the front row and make their first starts, while Woodhouse Grove openside Louis Fraser also makes a first start.
Both half backs start for the first time, with Pangbourne College’s James Costin-Pratt at scrum half and Royal Hospital School’s Toby Buckland at fly half. Joseph Triegaardt on the right wing also makes a first start. Truro’s Daniel Hubble makes a second start on the left wing after missing last week’s game against the Midlands, as is the case for Trinity’s Reece McCarthy in the second row.
The bench could see a further two players makes their debuts, both happen to be Felsted players, Mike Galsworthy and James Lennon.
Speaking ahead of the game, Lambs National Director Alex Laybourne said:
“Crawshays always bring a strong squad. They play the game with the right spirit and it is going to be a great encounter once again.”
The two sides are known for their exciting style of play, the Lambs philosophy is their ‘fast and free’ style. In their own words, “the Independent Schools RFC was set up to promote traditional rugby values and a ‘Corinthian’ spirit as our style: this is to play unreserved ‘heads up’ running rugby in a fast and expansive style, which is player rather than coach-led.”
Crawshay’s adopt a similar philosophy, with the club aiming to provide as much for its members off the field as on it, “it is how the game is played on and off the field that matters and the friendships are made for life. In the fast changing world of rugby and sport the spirit of Crawshay’s never changes.”
It has certainly proved a successful policy for Crawshay’s, who can count a number of recent internationals among their former players, including: Ryan Jones, Shane Williams, Dan Lydiate, Richard Hibbard, Rhys Gill, Andy Powell, Hallam Amos and Andrew Coombs of Wales as well as recent England players Mauritz Botha and Tom Wood.
In Saturday’s squad there are a few potentially exciting English based players too, including King’s Gloucester’s Will Davies-King, Framingham College’s Will Ponty, Ashby’s Calum Donnelly, and King’s College Taunton’s Gwyn Parks.
There are also a number of Welsh based players that many of the Lambs XV are likely to have come across, including three Monmouth School stars and representatives from both Llandovery College and Christ College Brecon.
If Crawshay’s do opt for a running game, we could be in for another classic with the Lambs likely to be able to really maximise their ‘fast and free’ philosophy on the Ealing 3G.
| ISRFC Lambs XV to face Crawshay’s Welsh – Saturday 13th February, 14.00 (Ealing Trailfinders) | ||
| Pos | Name (Appearances) | School |
| 1 | Nick Atkinson (c) (1) | Giggleswick |
| 2 | Cory Nelson (1) | Caterham |
| 3 | Daniel Ali (1) | Cheltenham College |
| 4 | Harry Johnson (2) | Ashville College |
| 5 | Reece McCarthy (1) | Trinity |
| 6 | George Cassell (2) | Bloxham |
| 7 | Louis Fraser (1) | Woodhouse Grove |
| 8 | Will Burns (0) | Pocklington |
| 9 | James Costin-Pratt (2) | Pangbourne College |
| 10 | Toby Buckland (1) | Royal Hospital School |
| 11 | Daniel Hubble (1) | Truro |
| 12 | George Hitchcock (2) | Felsted |
| 13 | Isaac Rayworth (1) | Plymouth College |
| 14 | Joseph Triegaardt (1) | Reed’s |
| 15 | Arthur Friend (0) | Blundell’s |
| Replacements | ||
| 16 | Mike Galsworthy (0) | Felsted |
| 17 | Jack Starkey (1) | Queen Ethelburga’s College |
| 18 | Ben Oliphant-Thomson (1) | Blundell’s |
| 19 | Eddie Goss (1) | Wellingborough |
| 20 | Samuel Bloomer (1) | Churcher’s College |
| 21 | James Lennon (0) | Felsted |
| 22 | Will Vaughan (1) | Pangbourne College |
| 23 | Jacob Weightman (1) | Durham |
| 24 | Mason Knowles (1) | Woodhouse Grove |
Crawshay’s Welsh Squad:
Forwards
Jack Williams (Cloeg Gwent Cross Keys)
Ethan Williams (Ysgol Plasmawr)
Matt Hodson (Llangovery College)
Connor Davies (Coleg Gwent Ebbw Vale)
Iwan Madoc (Ysgol Bro Dinefwr)
Will Davies-King (King’s School, Gloucester)
Ben Jones (Radyr Comprehensive)
Will Ponty (Framlingham College)
Callum Bailey-Aitken (Newport High)
Ben Asprea (Porthcawl Comprehensive)
Will Goodey (Cheptsow Comprehensive)
Calum Donnelly (Ashby School)
Griffri Whiston (Monmouth)
Backs
Tomas Bainton (Coleg Gwent Cross Keys)
Jak Robbins (Porthcawl Comprehensive)
Gwyn Parks (King’s College, Taunton)
Oli Vickers (Monmouth)
Will Holley (St John’s, Aberdare)
Harry Lloyd (Ysgol Bro Dinefwr)
Luke Roberts (Christ College, Brecon)
Matt Cross (Brymawr RFC)
Josh Parr (Croesyceiliog RFC)
Ed Harper (Monmouth)