Match Preview

Here it is. The big one. The two Goliaths of the BBO Championship. First v Second. Flowing backs vs a strong pack. Littlemore with their 100% record, Wheatley with a record only blemished by a 5-3 loss away to the team that currently sit on top. This is Wheatley v Littlemore.

This Saturday, Wheatley will be welcoming league rivals Littlemore to the Holton Playing field of dreams in a highly anticipated top of the table clash. Both sides are currently in a rich vain of form, with both sides overcoming tricky fixtures last week, with Wheatley prevailing against Harwell and Littlemore beating Oxford in a game that saw two yellow cards and one red. Both teams will know what each other is about, having seen out a brutal, but low scoring game in the reverse fixture, Littlemore the 5-3 victors that day.

Wheatley are still without some notable players, however a strong team has yet again been selected. The front row of Acklam, Mitchell and Gabbidon once again grace the pitch with equal measures of speed, strength, cunning and guile, whilst behind them (and hoping to improve on their dismal Kick off return performance) in the second row is the wily Nick Banton and Norn Iron's finest (well second finest - Giggity), Matt Gibb. Caillin Taylor misses the crunch game, leaving the back row duties to Dan Bland, James Neal and Jack Atkinson.

In the back, top scorer Aaron Laman will look to add to his tally from scrum half, whilst Jack Taylor retains the number ten shirt after Andy Willis' late return from Wheatley's Alpine training camp. With no Josh Hillsdon, Joe Hobdell returns from injury to take the number 12 shirt, whilst Iain Downer moves outside of him. Last weeks back three of Callum Fraser, Jordan Hook and Dan Rule remain unchanged.

A slightly more balanced bench than last weeks (although it turns out Mezz is a winger...) sees Simon Chadbone and Fraser Peterson provide the forwards cover, whilst Andy Willis will make his return to the side from the bench.

Without a doubt, this is both teams hardest game of the season and with only 7 miles separating the two clubs, school mates, work mates and mate mates will be facing off against each other and giving their all to gain the bragging rights in this local derby.

(Screw Pooch)