The Nuns travel to Shropshire tomorrow to take on league leaders Newport in the Midlands Premier division. Buoyed by the first win of the season last weekend, the Nuns know that they will have a stern test tomorrow against a team that has scored 239 points in their first four games having won Midlands 1 West last year. Newport bounced straight back after relegation in the 2015-16 season and have brought momentum and a few signings with them to be the early season pacesetters. Last week they defeated Scunthorpe 52-18. When the two sides last met Newport took the honours with a 33-32 win at Liberty Way.

Lasts weeks win over Newbold was built around a solid set piece, an improved defence and playing the game in the correct areas and the side will be looking for more of this on Saturday. The four league points picked up saw the Nuns move from 12th to 9th with 8 points.

The Saxons are also away to Newport and will be looking to build on the excellent win at Newbold last week, 23-17.They currently sit 7th in the league with 2 wins and a loss but other teams have played more games and so doesn’t quite reflect things yet.

The Saracens away game to Worcester Wanderers has been re-arranged due to a lack of referee.

Team news: Jon Pateman makes his first start of the season having recovered from an injury that curtailed his end to last season with a couple of games for the Saxons. He joins Nick Smith and Ben Holmes in the front row. The rest of the pack remains the same as last week.

There is just one change in the backline with Richard Johnston coming on to the wing for Harry Garforth.

The bench is made up of Sam Greening, Callum Grant-Smith and Tom Smitham.

Squad to play Newport (Salop) RFC, away 3pm:

Nuneaton	Position	Position Sponsor
Ben Holmes	1	Mark Gardner
Nick Smith	2	Brent Masser
Jon Pateman	3	Ian Holt
Matt Gibbs	4
Tom Aherne	5
Rudi Reid	6	Mark Mitchell
Todd Bullions	7	Allan Taylor
Apo Satala	8	Paul Griffiths
Huw Thomas	9	Paul Mitchell Home Improvements
Tyler Price	10	Alibone/Carter
Richard Johnston	11	Andy Marshall, InControl Gas Services
Moses Liwaliwa	12	Craig Dutton
Elliott Brown	13	Andy Baber
Jackson Hughes	14
Rory Vowles	15	Adam Jones
Sam Greening	16
Callum Grant-Smith	17
Tom Smitham	18

You can sponsor a position for £150 for the season, please contact sponsorship@nuneatonrugby.co.uk for more information.

Saxons V Newport 2s, away 3pm:

Joji Volaikisuva, James Benjamin, Lewis Wilson, Ryan Leake, Tom Green, Arron Turner, Ben Higgens, Liam Moore, Chris Smith, George Wallis, Oli Ingram, Matt Guilfoyle, Harry Garforth Manasa Volaikisuva, Lewis Wrigley, Ryan Southall, Adam Stauvers, Aidan Rose, Jack Grubb

Midlands Premier – Round Up

Week 4 - 23rd September. 

The top 3 all won, each scoring 50+ points and all remain unbeaten. Newport (Salop) stay top winning at Scunthorpe. Peterborough Lions shut out Lichfield 57-0 and Birmingham & Solihull had a comfortable win over Derby. Doncaster Phoenix won at Sandbach and Bournville lost at home to Bridgnorth. Longton won at Old Halesonians who are without a win. Newbold couldn’t stop the Nuns recording their first win. 

Week 5 - 30th September. 

Newport (Salop) (1st) - who average 59 points per game take on the Nuns (9th). Peterborough Lions (2) have the long trip to Longton (5) but should win. B&S (3) have a tricky trip to Doncaster (4) but will win. Lichfield (6) entertain Sandbach (12) and I favour the home side. Bournville (7) go to Derby (8) in a mid-table clash, and Derby will keep their unbeaten home record. Newbold (10) will add to Old Halesonians (14) misery. Bridgnorth (11) to beat Scunthorpe (13) who have struggled since their relegation from National 2 North.

Week Five Fixtures

Bridgnorth V Scunthorpe
Derby V Bournville
Doncaster Phoenix V Birmingham/Solihull
Lichfield V Sandbach
Longton V Peterborough Lions
Newbold V Old Halesonians
Newport V Nuneaton