Match Preview

(AWAY) Saturday 13th

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Hopefully third time lucky, after the two recent postponements – the last three weeks have seemed a awful long time, and for those who watch at Mint Bridge it will be another week before the First XV play only their third home game of the season (although Douglas are behind us have only played once at home)

The first of a few key games, with Birkenhead Park in third, just 3 points behind us (although we have the Bowden game in hand), followed by sixth place Manchester at Mint Bridge next week, then away at current leaders Stockport in a fortnight.

Birkenhead Park have also yet to play Stockport, who visit them next week. Their losses both came in late September at home to Manchester, then away at Glossop. Four of their six wins have been by 7 or less points (three of ours have been). A fortnight ago they had a 15v30 win away at Wilmslow, where we had had a much closer finish in our last game a week earlier.

Looking at other games, if we come away with nothing we could drop as low as sixth (although with that game in hand) – whilst even if we lost, with a few bonus points we could stay in second, but even a bonus point win would not see us overtake Stockport, regardless of their result.

It has not been the best of grounds for us, losing the last four, once when Park were getting promoted, but twice when they were due for relegation. The last in April 2018, in a particularly poor display, where we were 24v0 down with ten minutes to play, only to then pull back to 24v21, on the final whistle.

TEAM : Difficult to remember who played at Wilmslow, but Reece Tomlinson is back, with Greg Wrathall moving to No.8 and Steven Nelson back to No.6. James Gough is back, and Lewis Kincart come onto the left wing, with Dan Shorrock swapping to the right in place of Kris Bratton. Mark Carruthers and Dan Lowther retains their places. Dan Greenwood and Ross McKay are joined on the bench by Jordan Johnson, so there are three scrum halves in the squad.

WEATHER : Looks as if it should be dry, and may even be sunny (it often is when we visit Birkenhead)

MINT BRIDGE : For those unable to travel, it does not look as if there is a Second team game, so it will have to be into the club house to watch the Autumn Internationals, and dream of a real home game a week later (hopefully).