Match Preview

This saturday Aldridge return to league action determined to continue with the great start to the season as they welcome Birmingham Exiles RFC.

Head Coach Jon Arch

"Firstly we're not taking any team in this league lightly, and I have been quite surprised at the Exiles results to date this season; they came up last season as champions so we will treat them with respect they deserve regardless of what the league table says - after all we have only played 3 games. That said we honestly believe that when we play our rugby we are going to be a very tough team to beat, especially at home.

Selection this week is really going to be interesting; 1st XV Vice Captain Josh Reynolds is back available after his trip to the USA, available so to is Barnie (who scored 2 tries in his last game), last seasons stand out player "Sir" Adam Reed, big second row Jordan Russell and the trio of Neil Smith, Ed O'Neil and Ed Tonks (all who had to pull out last week through injury and illness. Some very good players are going to be playings 2nd XV which really is great for the club.

We are as close to having a full 1st XV squad available as I think we will get; we are only really missing Lewis Underwood (Knee Ligament operation expected back in January), Ben Pittam (knee - expected to be back in next 2 weeks) and Adam Morris unavailable.

We really owe the home crowd a proper performance - last time out at home against Aston Old Eds we let ourselves down in the way we played and let the whole "local derby" get to us, and the guys are now using that as their own motivation."

Kick off is at 3pm at Bourne Vale.