Fresh off the back of an impressive 54-32 win against a depleted Alchester side, Wheatley travel to the nearby super town of Bicester looking to build on the promise displayed in their last game. Bicester are another new team to Wheatley 2nds and the BBO 4 North league, having finished bottom of last year’s BBO 3 North, winning just two games along the way and finishing on -1 points. Bicester failed to raise a team for their first game of the season, so Wheatley should expect to face a fired up team who are looking to kick start their season.
With no promise of a 60th Birthday Booze up, the Wheatley 2nd team has greatly reduced from the 28 players they had last week. Chris Eggleton joins Jake Durbin and Anthony Cortez in the front row, with Mike Lasko and Captain Pete Ramsdale behind them. A new look back row consisting of Matt Gibb, Luke Durbin and Russ Neal completes the pack.
Gavin Belcher and Rob George are unavailable and so a new 9/10 combination will made up from Gav Stanton, George Turner or Gareth Johnson. Outside them will be the now familiar face of James Bowley, who will partner up with Italian debutant Michael Martini in the centres. Claude Barbe-Brown makes his first appearance of season on the wing, with pacemen Josh Hillsdon and Olly Tyson completing a dangerous back three after Jackson Gould fractured his wrist in his debut outing against Alchester.
Forwards: A Cortez, J Durbin, C Eggleton, M Gibb, P Ramsdale (Captain), M Lasko, R Neal, L Durbin
Backs: G Stanton, G Turner, G Johnson, J Bowley, M Martini, J Hilsdon, O Tyson, C Barbe-Brown, M Chadbone
*STARTING LINE UP IS LIKELY TO CHANGE*