WING Nathan Decalmer will make his first league appearance of the season for Bournville in Saturday’s Regional One Midlands derby against Stourbridge at Avery Fields (3pm).
Decalmer has been sidelined since he tweaked a hamstring in the victory over Silhillians in a friendly four weeks ago but he has now regained fitness and comes in to the starting XV as one of four changes to the side that was edged out at Bridgnorth last weekend.
Adam Collingwood moves from the wing to partner Joe Jenkins in the centre to accommodate Decalmer with Chris Idehen, who played in the centre last week, reverting to the back-row at openside flanker.
Danny Griffin, Harry Dawson and Jono Fanning, who all came off the bench at Bridgnorth, start this week. Griffin comes in at loosehead prop with Dawson partnering captain Ben Meakin the second-row.
Fanning, who started at hooker in the victory over Nuneaton two weeks ago, will start at number eight against Stourbridge.
On the bench, centre Jamie Maynard and lock Ollie Morris are set for their competitive debuts having impressed for the Blues in recent weeks. Maynard is the son of club
Managing Director Phil and arrived from Warley during the summer while Morris joined from Harborne. Both played in the pre-season match against Sheffield Tigers three weeks ago.
Saturday’s match will be the first meeting with Stourbridge since March 2023 when Bourns won 34-3 at Avery Fields to complete the double in National Two West.
Bournville | 15 Mauro Miller; 14 Cam Smith, 13 Joe Jenkins, 12 Adam Collingwood, 11 Nathan Decalmer; 10 Jacob Fewtrell, 9 Reiss Price; 1 Danny Griffin, 2 Ben Rhodes, 3 Jake Thompson, 4 Ben Meakin (C), 5 Harry Dawson, 6 Kieran Henderson, 7 Chris Idehen, 8 Jonjo Fanning.
Replacements | 16 Clarkson McLeod, 17 Ollie Morris, 18 Jamie Maynard.
