Rugby: Scrum half Thompson set for Chinnor debut

From the archive, first published Friday 21st Jan 2005.

Chinnor will give a league debut to 17 year-old scrum half Morgan Thompson tomorrow, when they make the the longest journey of their South West 1 programme to take on lowly Penryn in Cornwall.

The Pangbourne School pupil comes in after impressing during the Oxfordshire Cup victory over Witney on Sunday.

Coach John Brodley explained: "We played both our scrum halves against Witney and they performed well.

"But given the style of rugby the Cornishmen will play, Morgan will give us a different option.

Oxford Harlequins will make at least one change for their home match with leaders Cinderford.

Lock Lee Pearce has a hand injury, so will not be considered, but Elliott Stephenson returns to the squad after a trip abroad, as does prop Paul De Lange who was in Poland last weekend.

Former Oxford University fly half Matt Honeyben makes his first start for Henley Hawks when they entertain in-form Coventry in National League 1.

Every game for the Hawks is now vital as they fight to stave off relegation.

Former Saracens player Honeyben replaces Barry Reeves, who has found it difficult to capture the form which made him the Hawks leading scorer in recent seasons.

Flanker James Astbury has a broken hand so the versatile back rower James Jones takes his placeon the bench. Dave Park is not available.

Witney entertain close rivals Buckingham in Southern League South.

Ricky Dore keeps his place as does Martin Lyall, while Ben Rollinson drops down to the bench benche Matt Brocklebank and Gareth Williams. TOMORROW'S

LINE-UPS Henley Hawks (v Coventry, 2): Bellinger, Obi, James, Tamati, Van Zyl, Honeyben, Gaunt, Johnstone (capt), Hopcroft, Grierson, Winterbottom, Harris, Green, Holloway, Lubans. Reps: Fuller, Gibbons, Jones, Hayman or Archer, Smaje, Reeves, Davies.

Chinnor (v Penryn, away): Major, Wood, Shaw, Oxley, Grimsdell, Hewitt, Brooks, Cathcart, Thompson, Matthews (capt), Grobler; Harris, Hutchins, Burrows, Winslade, Cook, Martin. Reps: Winpenny, Milburn.

Oxford Harlequins (v Cinderford, home, meet Horspath Road, 1pm) from: Ralph, Hasall, De Lange, Si Chadbone, Stephenson, Eggar, Soper, J Cope (cap), Baxter, Nye, A Cope, Pooler, Recchia, Mawle, Searle, Noyce, Ashton, Boreham.

Oxford Harlequins Development XV (v Chinnor 2nd, away, meet Horspath Road, 12.50pm).

Oxford Harlequins 3rd XV (v Newbury 4th, away, meet Horspath Road, 12.30pm).

Oxford Harlequins 4th XV (v Drifters 2nd, home, meet Horspath Road, 1pm).

Witney (v Buckingham, home, KO 2.30): Wheater, H Lamb, Murray, J Lamb, Edwards, O Smith, Austen, Dore, Merriman, Gosling, Chatterton (capt), Habberley, J Hicks, Worrall, Lyall. Reps: Brocklebank, G Williams, Rollinson.

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