CULLOMPTON NEXT FOR THE LADIES...
Our Ladies squad return to action after a three-week break when they travel to Cullompton tomorrow.
They will be without regular skipper Jemma Crouse, as well as Carly Duchemin, Heidi Mahy and Justeen Baker for the trip to Cullompton.
As a result, Vicki Rang will move from full back to scrum half and take on the captaincy, while Lucy Pratt fills the full back position having missed the previous game due to attending the RFU Centre of Excellence Trials.
Fiona Ashworth moves back to 10 having started the last game at outside centre and Chelsie Blondel-Power moves to 13 from the wing allowing Sophie Ferbrache a start on the left and Lael Hollingworth will start on the opposite wing.
In the forwards the only real change sees Janelly Le Maitre starting at tighthead in place of Heidi Mahy.
Coach Chris Griffiths says that it is important to finish the season strongly, even if relegation seems all but certain.
‘There is little we can do now to get off the bottom of the league table but we have played really well since Christmas improving with every game and we have seen those improvements lead to results for us and we want to finish the season strongly, both against Cullompton and next weekend against Drybrook at home.
‘We want to get at least one more win before the league season finishes and perform strongly in both games to prove to ourselves and to show the RFU that we can compete at this level even if ultimately we do have to make the step down next season.’
Starting XV:
Michaela Rabey, Michelle Schofield, Janelly Le Maitre, Ellie Whittles, Kristine Vavere, Tanya Scholtz, Fiona Power, Rachel Merrien, Vicki Rang (capt), Fiona Ashworth, Sophie Ferbrache, Hannah Guilbert, Chelsie Blondel-Power, Lael Hollingworth, Lucy Pratt.
Replacements: Andrea Harris, Sophie O'Connell, Chloe Williams, Rebekah Fant