Match Preview

After a week off, Wheately will welcome Aldermarston to the Holton Playing Fields of dreams looking to get back into it and back on track.

Wheatley find themselves in uncharted territory this week, as they head into a fixture off the back of two successive defeats and so will be looking to get their league campaign back on track, with Chipping Norton and Berkshire Shire Hall chasing them down. Aldermarston currently sit one place above the bottom of the league and themselves have a point to prove after also losing to Littlemore and Oxford. The away leg of this fixture saw Wheatley emerge 32-7 winners, which included a much viewed Try from Iain Downer.

Looking to drag this Wheatley side into the wins again will be everyone's favourite bear and Captain Alex Acklam, who is reunited with the returning Pete Mitchell whilst Alex Gabbidon will start at prop, unless he fails to follow the most simple of instructions. The second row partnership of Gibb and Banton are also reunited, much to Nick's pleasure. Caillin Taylor returns to the side after missing a couple of games and will start at 7, alongside Dan Bland who starts at 6. Jack Atkinson returns from Clanger Rehab for the clangiest of clangers and starts at 8, hopefully fully cured of all future clangers.

With Aaron Laman still resting up, Jack 'not related to Caillin' Taylor will take the scrum halves jersey, whilst Andy Willis starts outside him at 10. The better Hobdell, Joe, takes his place in the centres, whilst Josh Hillsdon returns to the team to take the 13 shirt. David Thomas adds his experience to the wing and Joe 'related to Caillin' Taylor starts on the opposite wing with Dan Rule unavailable. Fresh from an unspecified parade (gay, disney or other) Jordan Hook starts at 15

After playing too many minutes over the last couple of weeks, Simon Chadbone is glad of the rest on the bench alongside his front row partner Ezra Rees. Scottish Pete Evans returns to the side after thumb surgery and will also provide some forward cover, whilst Gavin Belcher (probably still moaning about that nasty 6 who gave him a black eye) provides the only backs cover.

A mark of a good side is not how bad you lose, but how well you react to losing and this week is the perfect opportunity for Wheatley to show their resolve and get back into the winning habit.