It’s third time lucky for the Nuns this weekend as they look to resume action for the first time in 2025. They welcome Banbury to Liberty Way for possibly the first time and face a team that currently sit 3rd in the table with 48 points. The Nuns remain in 8th with 33 points with both sides having played 13 games. When the two sides met earlier in the season the Nuns lost out 42-24 despite holding a half time lead. There were a number of areas where they threatened Banbury on the day and came away with 4 tries but they must also be sharper in defence to not allow them the opportunity to take the game away like they did in the first game.

The weather has curtailed training and fixtures over the last couple of weeks but hopefully the players are chomping at the bit to get back into action. Banbury’s last game was at the start of January when they were victorious 31-24 at Silhillians.

The Saxons travel to top of the league Syston in what will be a tough fixture for them. They were also frozen off last weekend but they completed the league double over Old Salts at the start of the month when they were victorious 34-19. This win moved them up to 8th in the league with 21 points from 11 games. Syston have a perfect record of 10 bonus point wins from 10 so far and 50 points.

The Colts have their first game of the year away at Old Leamingtonians and the Saracens are without a game.

Team news: from the Derby fixture there are returns for Louis Addleton and Ben Dawes return in the front row. James Moreton comes in at lock with Ben Haywood moving to the back row in place of Rudi Reid who is unavailable.

In the backline, Ryan Preston returns in the centre for Harry Beverley.

On the bench are Jack Iles and Mike Volaikisuva are joined by Benji Mitchell who will be making his 1st team debut when he comes on.

Squad to play Banbury RFC, Home 2:15pm:

1 Ryan Marsh*
2 Louis Addleton
3 Ben Dawes
4 James Moreton*
5 Tom Aherne
6 Ben Haywood
7 Oli Mitchell*
8 Martin Wood
9 Ben Kirby
10 Lucas Brindley*
11 Tak Chawadya
12 Ryan Preston
13 Travis Bennett-Allcock *
14 Nemani Rayabo
15 Joe Wilson*

16 Jack Iles*
17 Benji Mitchell*
18 Mike Volaikisuva*

*Nuneaton RFC Pathway Players

Saxons V Syston, away 2:15pm:

Dave Darker*, Thor Sidhu*, Steve Orton, Tyler Freeman*, Chris Smith*, James O’Donoghue, Ben Powell, Clive Brampton, Joe Franklin*, Ben Stewart*, Tom Eales, Lewis Cox*, Harry Beverley*, Ben Gilbert*, Charlie Smith*, Scott Cawley

Regional 1 Midlands Round 15 Fixtures:

Long Eaton V Derby (Friday Night)
Bromsgrove V Burton
Dudley Kingswinford V Kenilworth
Silhillians V Syston
Stourbridge V Bridgnorth
Nuneaton V Banbury

Regional 1 Midlands Round 14 Results:

Silhillians 24 Banbury 31
Stourbridge 39 Derby 7
Syston 26 Bridgnorth 21