Bournville hoping to meet fresh opposition in Forest of Dean – at the fourth time of asking

BOURNVILLE hope it will be fourth time lucky when they make their much-delayed first-ever visit to Drybrook’s Mannings ground on Saturday.

The match, which was initially scheduled to be played on January 10, has been postponed three times – once for snow and twice for waterlogging.

But Drybrook were able to host – and beat – Newent in a Forest of Dean derby last Saturday and drier conditions this week have given cause for cautious optimism that the match will go ahead this weekend.

Bourns have made four changes to the side that beat Dudley Kingswinford at Avery Fields last Saturday, a victory which took them back to the top of Regional One Midlands, displacing Newport by virtue of superior points difference.

Centre Joe Jenkins returns after a two month absence in the one change of personnel to the back division with Mikey Ho switching to the left wing in place of Nathan Decalmer who suffered a knee injury last week. Jenkins spent the Christmas period in his native Australia and was then sidelined by an ankle injury.

In the pack,  Poland Under-20s prop Kuba Kijak comes into the front row along with hooker Ben Rhodes who swaps places with Jamie Harding who is on the bench this week.

Kieran Henderson moves from the blindside flank to the second row to partner skipper Ben Meakin with Jonjo Fanning coming into the starting XV at number eight. Callum Nicholls moves across the back row to accommodate Fanning.

Rhys Williams Goldman, who made his debut at Newent three weeks ago, returns to the squad for another trip to the Forest of Dean as replacement back this week.

Drybrook were promoted as Regional Two Severn champions last season and level-transferred from the South West to the Midlands leagues.

Their 21-19 victory over Newent was their fourth of the season, the others being against the clubs below them – a double over bottom-of-the-table Nuneaton and a home win against Dudley Kingswinford.