Saltash v St Boniface Old Boys: Boxing Day rugby preview

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ST BONIFACE Old Boys go into their annual Boxing Day clash at Moorlands Lane bidding to upset the impressive form of their hosts Saltash (11am).

The popular seasonal sortie has been staged for the best part of three decades, and is set to be an entertaining and keenly-contested friendly.

Ashes are sitting mid-table in the Cornwall and Devon League and the Old Boys know they will be hard to beat given their home form.

Last year’s man of the match, London students’ prop Jordan Wood, admits ‘the young team is learning all the time but what really counts on the day is getting the result’.

Last year, the match was played in horrendous conditions that made the game scrappy at times.

Saltash ended up winning with a last-minute try.

Last year’s result will not affect the Old Boys and Wood insists his team-mates will ‘will give everything to get the win’.

Wood said: “For the past few years, including last Boxing Day, we have come really close to getting the result we want.

“And this year, I believe we can get a win as the team has been playing together now for a number of years and knows how important it is.”

Many of the Old Boys squad are from local teams such as Devonport Services and OPMs, with a sprinkling of players from higher league clubs like Newton Abbot, Ivybridge and clubs and universities in London.

Among those looking to upset Saltash will be the likes of Scott Meakin, who now plays his rugby in London for National Two side East Grinstead with his brother Cameron.

Also in the ranks are Hartpury College and Gloucester Academy flanker Jack Norris and ex-Albion star Chris Lowrie, along with Rhys Williams, who plays for the Navy.

Williams was due to play at Twickenham in the annual Navy versus Army game at Twickenham, but he had to pull out due to injury.

Williams says that he is excited about the game having not played rugby recently due to work commitments and is equally upbeat about the back-line he could be playing with.

“It’s interesting to think we could potentially put out a back-line in which all have experience of playing in Western Counties or higher,” he said.

“We just need to click on the day.”

Flanker Ryan Dingle brings an added dimension to the back-row after helping Harlequins’ A team reach the final of the Premiership second team competition.

Making their Boxing Day debuts are Devonport Services’ Nathan Wonnacott and Edward Northcott, along with newcomer Hayden Coles (Ivybridge).

Bringing experience to the pack will be flanker Mike Hunt and prop Declan Sexton.

OPMs’ captain James Digweed and centre Iain Buscombe, who has been playing regular national league rugby in London, are also in their squad.

St Boniface (from): Wood, Sexton, Digweed, Darrah, McFarlene, Burt, Trower, Botha, Hunt, Smith, Dingle, Norris, Northcott, Gigg, Lowrie, Meakin, Wilkinson, Lane, Meakin, Buscombe, Copplestone, Williams, Coles, Halfpenny, Wonnacott, Gilley, Wilson, Fairweather, Wyatt, Hernandez, Edwards, Hawkshaw

Article source: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/latest/rugby-greig-laidlaw-out-to-improve-edinburgh-1-3027749

Saltash v St Boniface Old Boys: Boxing Day rugby preview