It’s Welsh opposition for the Lambs again this week as they head to Oxford Harlequins RFC on Sunday to take on Boys Club of Wales.
Fresh from a cracking game in the wet and muddy conditions at Abergavenny last week against Crawshay’s, which the Lambs lost 22-5, the Lambs are looking to even up their record having previously lost out narrowly in a thriller to IQ Rugby (Irish Exiles), 10-7, and won a stormer against Coventry Academy, 38-27.
From the side that went to Wales last week, the Lambs have made a few changes. Six of that side remain in the starting line up, though three of those have changed position.
Skipper George Jones of Millfield remains in the second row, where he is joined by another of last week’s starters, Antonio Suarez of Mount Kelly, who moves from number 8 to the second row. It makes for a dynamic pack as both Jones and Suarez have been in the back row for the Lambs.
In the actual back row the hugely impressive Freddie Wharton of St Peter’s York stays at 7, with Lord Wandsworth College’s Paris Mcerlain promoted from the bench to the number 8 shirt. King’s Canterbury’s Fergus Deans comes in at blindside.
It’s an all new front row with Rugby’s Oliver Nilsson coming in at loosehead, Shiplake College’s Herny Kunzig at hooker, and Rugby’s James Hill promoted from the bench to the tighthead berth.
The half back are all new as well, Berkhamsted’s Charlie Woodmansee returns at scrum half, with Taunton’s Benjamin Chaffey at fly half. Outside of them Chaffey’s schoolmate Thomas Houghton-King remains at 12, while Connor MacMillan of Shebbear College moves from the left wing to the right, with vice-captain Charles Warren of Mount Kelly moving from outside centre to the left wing.
That move allows fellow vice captain Jasper Orlebar of Oundle to jump from the bench to outside centre, while at full back West Buckland’s Joe Hill comes in.
On the bench William Loftus of Sir Thomas Rich’s remains, while Bedford’s Laurie Stredwick comes in, the rest of the bench, Jacob Steel (Northampton School for Boys), James Sisterson (Bishop’s Stortford College), Aaron Molnar (Millfield), and Joe Barrett (Ampleforth College) will all be in action again having started last week’s game.
Speaking ahead of the contest against Boys Club of Wales, one of the Lambs’ traditional fixtures, Lambs National Director Alex Laybourne said: “The Lambs vs Boys Cub of Wales is historically a titanic battle, and in the weekend leading up to the Six Nations clash between England and Wales I am not sure we can expect any less!”
“We are looking forward to hosting them once again, they are a well-coached, physical and passionate side; we will need to match that whilst bringing our own levels of Fast and Free rugby on the 3G at Oxford Harlequins.”
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Lambs XV v Boys Club of Wales – Sunday, 3pm, Oxford Harlequins RFC
15 Joe Hill (West Buckland), 14 Connor MacMillan (Shebbear College), 13 Jasper Orlebar (Oundle, vice captain), 12 Thomas Houghton-King (Taunton), 11 Charles Warren (Mount Kelly, vice captain), 10 Benjamin Chaffey (Taunton), 9 Charlie Woodmansee (Berkhamsted), 1 Oliver Nilsson (Rugby), 2 Henry Kunzig (Shiplake College), 3 James Hill (Rugby), 4 Antonio Suarez (Mount Kelly), 5 George Jones (Millfield, captain), 6 Fergus Deans (King’s Canterbury), 7 Freddie Wharton (St Peter’s, York), 8 Paris Mcerlain (Lord Wandsworth College).
Replacements: 16 Jacob Steel (Northampton School for Boys), 17 Laurie Stredwick (Bedford), 18 James Sisterson (Bishop’s Stortford College), 19 William Loftus (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 20 Aaron Molnar (Millfield), 21 Joe Barrett (Ampleforth College).
