The Second team will look to go one better than their first team colleagues managed last week and come away from the first game of the newly restructured BBO 4 North league with maximum points. The Alchester side they welcome to Holton spent last year playing in the BBO 3 North league, finishing mid table with 6 wins and 5 losses. With the only meetings between these two teams coming in first team level cup games, the visitors are somewhat of an unknown quantity to Wheatley II, however with Alchester II only conceding an average of 12 points per game last season a tough game should be expected with Wheatley looking to blood newly recruited talent, as well as dust off the cobwebs from several returning players.

For possibly the first time ever, the 2nd team has an abundance of players available, with new and old faces returning to the fray. Kier Williams returns to Wheatley after a long absence alongside debutant American prop Anthony Cortez. Rob ‘Shandy’ Cook completes an experienced second row with veteran Peter Ramsdale alongside him, whilst Matt Gibb, Matt Bianchini and Liam ‘Mezz’ Meredith make up the back row. The forwards can also look to a full bench that contains the returning Russ Neal and Jim ‘Jimbo’ Shrimpton joining last season’s regulars Mike Lasko, Joe Hyde and Max Rüster on a substitute’s bench packed with power.

After recovering from a knee injury that has kept him out for the past 2 seasons, the backs finally welcome back Gavin Belcher to scrum half. Completing the new look back line are fly half Rob George and debutant centres, Jackson Gould and James Bowley. Josh Hilsdon, Jordan Mayling and ‘Irish’ Jonny Wilson make up a potent back 3. With Dave Thomas, Matthew ‘Tigger’ Chadbone, Luke Durbin, Keith Parsler and Phil ‘Cocky’ Glenn on the bench, the backs can look to the bench for a mix of pace, power and creativity.

SQUAD
Forwards: A Cortez, J Durbin, K Williams, R Cook, M Gibb, P Ramsdale (Captain), L Meredith, M Rüster, R Neal, M Lasko, J Hyde, J Shrimpton, M Bianchini

Backs: G Belcher, R George, J Gould, J Bowley, J Hilsdon, J Mayling, J Wilson, D Thomas, TIGGER Chadbone, L Durbin, K Parsler, P Glenn

*STARTING LINE UP IS LIKELY TO CHANGE*