RUGBY UNION: Bowers is happy with Chinnor's start (From Witney Gazette)

RUGBY UNION: Bowers is happy with Chinnor's start

10:30am Friday 21st September 2012 in Rugby By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

Local previews

HEAD coach Jason Bowers said he was happy with Chinnor’s progress ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Barking in National 3 South West.

Bowers has named an unchanged squad for the visit of the division’s basement boys.

He said: “If someone had said to me that we would have six points after two tough away games, I would have been delighted with that.

“We are now looking forward to playing at Kingsey Road again as we have not been at home since beating Tonbridge Juddians in the play-off in April.”

Prop Hugo Milford-Scott and hooker Michael Clarke come into the Henley Hawks side to face Clifton at Dry Leas, with Dai Maddocks and Ant Brennan dropping to the bench.

Danny Wells replaces Ali James (unavailable) at centre after recovering from a wrist injury, while Xavier Andre slots in on the wing as Liam O’Neill was injured playing for Wasps A.

Neil Baggett comes in on the bench, hoping to make his first appearance of the season.

Full back Will Hilton is poised to make his Oxford Harlequins debut in their National 3 South West clash at Exmouth.

Hilton comes into the squad as a replacement for Harry Warman, who injured his shoulder against Chippenham last week.

Props Simon Chadbone and Paul DeLange, plus lock Luke Brown also miss out, with academy players Adam Neal and Connor McCaffery coming in.

No 8 Ollie Rees faces a late fitness test, while Alasdair Maspero is back in the squad.

Quins’ director of rugby Tevita Vaikona said: “We have had a tough start to the season, but we’ve got to get on with it.

“It is good experience for the youngsters and our average age will be something like 21 or 22 this week.”

Centre Tom Gardner and wing Lewis Collins come into the Witney team for their trip to Marlow in South West 1 East.

Tim Muller moves back to blindside flanker after a cameo at inside centre.

Captain Jez Hicks reverts to No 8 after playing on the playing on the flank in their 18-12 victory over High Wycombe.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Chinnor (v Barking, home): from Colver, Seymour, Goode, Stoop, Morgan, Corpe, Cathcart, Fielding, Jones, Stock, Win-penny, Tattersall, Pickett, Berry, Gilbert, Smith, Wood, Williams, Sawyer, Kava, Chase, Whelan, Blewitt.

Henley Hawks (v Clifton, home): Nutt, Andre, Wells, Allen (capt), Briggs, Comben, Shaylor, Milford-Scott, Clarke, Hadfield, Dwyer, Cannock, Payne, Newman, Stap-ley. Reps: Maddocks, Brennan, Wood-ward, Downing, Baggett.

Oxford Harlequins (v Exmouth, away): from Edney, Kalemani, Powell, Neal, Forde, Reeves, Rees, Maspero, Cosins, Todd, Briggs, Halatokoua, H Whittington, Burn, Hilton, McCaffery, Knapp, Ward.

Witney (v Marlow, away): Monks, L Manning, Murton, T Gardner, L Collins, J Lamb, G Campbell, Fuller, S Collins, Burke, M Copperwheat, Rowles, Muller, C Campbell, J Hicks (capt). Reps: Richens, Bennett, Carlsson.