After victory over Irish Exiles on Sunday, the Lambs have named their side for their second game of the season this Sunday at QEH School.
The invitational side will be taking of Bristol Bears’ Academy, facing the U18 and U17 players not selected for Bristol’s U18 Academy League fixture against Harlequins on Saturday.
Six of the side that started in the Lambs’ victory over Irish Exiles are in the starting fifteen once again, with four promoted from the bench, and five players set to make their Lambs debuts.
Pangbourne College’s Benjamin Smith-Bannister and Oundle’s Ben Hamden-Smith is again at openside flanker, with Mount Kelly’s Alex Rowe moving across to number 8, while Berkhamsted’s Jack Hussey moves from hooker to the blindside flank, Henley College’s Arun Watkins comes in at hooker, having started from the bench last week.
Wisbech Grammar School’s George Dady starts in the second row again and is joined by Pangbourne College’s Benjamin Smith-Bannister, who start at number 8 against Irish Exiles, meanwhile either side of Hussey in the front row are two debutants, Berkhamsted’s Zahran Obozuwa and Clayesmore’s Joshua Burvill.
In the backline King’s Gloucester’s Thomas Day starts at 12 once again, and Bloxham’s James Boardman, who moves in from the wing, joins him. Jack Chapples starts at scrum half, having been on the bench last time out, one of three Berkhamsted players in the side, the most of any school. Louis Goodall meanwhile makes his debut for the Lambs and starts at outside half.
The back three sees Wisbech Grammar’s William Gowler start on the left wing after starting on the bench last time out, with Mount St Mary’s College’s Samuel Marsden on the right, and Sutton Valence’s Luke Trigg at full back, both making their Lambs debuts.
The bench includes two of last week’s starters, Felsted prop Sebastian Dickens, and Woodhouse Grove wing Lewis Hyland-Solomon Dugbo. Joining them are three debutants, Hereford Cathedral School’s Francis Perks, Milton Abbey’s Archie Fuller, and Sutton Valence’s Presley Farranwe, Emanuel’s Finn Lyttle, and Sir John Lawes’ Guy Butterworth.
Speaking ahead of the games, Lambs Director of Rugby Alex Laybourne said: “It’s a very exciting opportunity to take on a Bristol Academy side this season, and I know the boys are looking forward to it.”
“Last Sunday was a fantastic performance from the squad and I am hoping that those players representing us again this week will take the ‘Fast and Free’ philosophy and continue to expand on it and shape it for the season. Of course, we are also looking forward to welcoming a number of Lambs players putting on the pink shirt for the first time.”
The Lambs have also confirmed fixtures for the rest of the season, with a fixture against Coventry Academy on Sunday 23rd February added to fixtures against Crawshay’s Welsh (8th Feb), Welsh Exiles (17th Feb), and Nottingham Rugby (2nd March), ahead of their South Africa tour over Easter.
Lambs XV v Bristol Bears (Sunday, 11.30am, QEH School, Failand)
15 Luke Trigg (Sutton Valence, apps 0)
14 Samuel Marsden (Mount St Mary’s College, 0)
13 James Boardman (Bloxham, 1)
12 Thomas Day (King’s Gloucester, 1)
11 William Gowler (Wisbech GS, 1)
10 Louis Goodall (Reed’s, 0)
9 Jack Chapples (Berkhamsted, 1)
1 Zahran Obozuwa (Berkhamsted, 0)
2 Arun Watkins (Henley College, 1)
3 Joshua Burvill (Clayesmore, 0)
4 George Dady (Wisbech GS, 1)
5 Benjamin Smith-Bannister (Pangbourne College, 1)
6 Jack Hussey (Berkhamsted, 1)
7 Ben Hampden-Smith (Oundle, 1)
8 Alex Rowe (Mount Kelly, 1)
Replavements: 16 Francis Perks (Hereford Cathedral, 0), 17 Sebastian Dickens (Felsted, 1), 18 Finn Lyttle (Emanuel, 0), 19 Archie Fuller (Milton Abbey, 0), 20 Presley Farrance (Sutton Valence, 0), 21 Lewis Hyland-Solomon Dugbo (Woodhouse Grove, 1), 22 Guy Butterworth (Sir John Lawes, 0).
Bristol Bears XV:
15 Benjy Joseland, 14 Chris Packer, 13 Harrison Murphy, 12 Cam Scott, 11 Ru Schofield, 10 Freddie Vaughan, 9 Archie Stapleton, 1 Tom Sims, 2 Jalen Curry, 3 Theo Norton, 4 Alex Ashton, 5 George Talbot, 6 Soloman Taufua, 7 Sam Butcher, 8 Fergus Dick.
Replacements: 16 Ben Bailey, 17 Herbie McMullen, 18 Francis Appiah, 19 Ethan Jordaan, 20 Ben Jones, 21 JJ Williams, 22 Archie Grayson, 23 Charlie Turner.
Lambs 2019/20 Schedule:
Sunday 19th January – Lambs RFC 42-22 Irish Exiles, Ealing Trailfinders RFC
Sunday 26th January – Lambs RFC v Bristol Bears Academy, QEH School, Failand
Saturday 8th February – Lambs RFC v Crawshay’s Welsh XV, Ealing Trailfinders RFC
Sunday 17th February – Lambs RFC v Boys Club of Wales, Merthyr RFC
Sunday 23rd February – Lambs RFC v Coventry Academy, Butts Park Arena
Monday 2nd March – Lambs RFC v Nottingham Rugby (Lady Bay)
Saturday 28th March to Friday 10th April (approx.) – Lambs RFC tour of South Africa
