Rugby: Injuries hit Chinnor hopes

From the archive, first published Saturday 27th Sep 2003.

CHINNOR have injury problems as they seek to open their account in South West 1 with a win at home to Barnstaple tomorrow.

With both centres Jon Brooks and John David absent, Chinnor have brought second team skipper Tom Woods into the starting line-up .

Mark Weeks-Pearson replaces Bob Harris in the front row, while Matt Hutchinson retains his second row slot, with Andy Milburn nursing a chest injury.

After defeats in their opening two games, this is an important match for Chinnor, who in four previous meetings against the North Devon side, have yet to register a victory.

Oxford Harlequins visit Cheltenham, who look like being strong contenders to finish in the top three. So this will be a good benchmark for Quins to see how they will fare this season.

Banbury's Intermediate Cup win over Luton on Saturday came at a high price, with their side being badly hit by injury for the trip to Hinckley in Midlands 2 East.

Promising teenage prop Andy Gilbert is out with a shoulder injury, flanker Mark Herlihy is doubtful after stitches to an eye injury, while centre Peter Papenfus pulled a hamstring.

Coach Simon Purnell may move to centre, allowing Paul Jackson to play at scrum half.

Former Harrow schoolboy Percy Sewell is likely to start in the second row, while the tight head prop position could go to South African Dave Burton.

Centre Chris Murray is back in the Witney side for the Southern Counties North trip to Grove.

Last week's debutant, Mike Jackson, did enough to continue at scrum half, while prop Andy Gosling and tearaway flanker Tim Muller return.

Oxford three-quarter Dave Ralson is like to miss most of the season after snapping his Achilles tendon two weeks ago.

His place for the visit to Bletchley in Berks, Bucks & Oxon Division 1 goes to promising teenager Liam Gibson.

Following their 38-9 win over Manchester, Henley Hawks are likely to be unchanged for their match away to National League 1 leaders Pertemps Bees - the name of the former Birmingham/Solihull club afterr an injection of cash by Pertemps.

Hawks' only changes affect the bench. Tristan Nicholas is suspended following his red card last week, while Tom Radbourne has been banned by the club for his yellow card.

CHINNOR have been drawn at home to Reading Abbey in the second round of the Powergen Intermediate Cup.

In the Powergen Junior Vase, Abingdon will host Wallingford in a local derby. All games are on October 18.

Powergen Intermediate Cup 2nd round: Chinnor v Reading Abbey, Whitchurch v Banbury.

Powergen Junior Vase 2nd round: Abingdon v Wallingford, Oxford v Bletchley.

TOMORROW'S LINE-UPS

Henley Hawks (v Pertemps Bees, away, 3): from Johnstone, Fuller, Hamilton Smith, Gibbons, A Hopcroft, Winterbottom, Bramley, Street, Barnes (capt), Atkinson, Payne, Martin, Mitchell, McNair, Obi, Davies, T Osman, James, R Osman, Reeves, Ward, Smaje.

Chinnor (v Barnstaple, home): Cawston, Hewitt, Woods , Oxley, Westerman, Cathcart, Phillips, Wilkinson, Cook, Weeks-Pearson, Hutchinson, Borgnis (capt), Johnson, Fincken, Seymour. Subs: Harris, Rixon, Tappin.

Oxford Harlequins (v Cheltenham, away, meet Horspath Rd 11.30) from: Houston, Chadbone, Silversides, Dow, Stephenson, Anderson, J Cope (capt), Nye, A Cope, Penney, Recchia, Graham, M Nutt, Boreham, Smith, Noyce, McCluggage, Mitchell, Moloney.

Oxford Harlequins 2nd & 3rd (v Cheltenham, home, meet Horspath Rd 1.15).

Banbury (v Hinckley, away, 3): from Ferguson, Battley, Goode, Purnell, Taylor, Flemming, Jackson, Tuluhungwa, Bannister, Burton, McNally, Sewell, Brooks, Jeves, Cummings, Dymond, Teare.

Witney (v Grove, away, 3): Hollick (capt), H Lamb, Murray, Edwards, A Hicks, Grant, M Jackson, Dore, Merriman, Gosling, J Williams, J Hicks, Muller, Worrall, G Williams. Reps: Rowles, Leatherbarrow, Phillips.

Oxford (v Bletchley, away): Maclennan, Davies, Owen, Skinner, Gibson, Engwell, Smith, Walter, Gray, Haig, Neill, Lockwood, MacDonald (capt), Kent, M Viner. Reps: A Viner, Garratt, Onions.

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