CHINNOR head coach Jason Bowers has called for one final push when they visit Redingensians in tomorrow’s crunch National 3 South West clash.
Redingensians sit third in the table, four points behind leaders Chinnor, so the Berkshire side are promotion rivals.
Bowers said: “The message is one more big effort and then enjoy Christmas.
“We have a strong side and this is a pretty critical game in our season. Hopefully, we can extend our winning streak.”
Bowers has named the same squad that beat Newton Abbot last week after flanker Harry Jackman and centre Sam Stoop shrugged off knocks.
Fly half James Cathcart will look to continue the good kicking form he showed against Abbot.
Redingensians director of rugby Gary Reynolds said: “If we win, we will be progressing towards a promotion slot. If we lose, making even a play-off will be extremely difficult.
“This is probably the biggest game in the club’s history.”
Oxford Harlequins head coach Tevita Vaikona makes his debut at inside centre away to winless Newbury Blues.
The Tonga international’s inclusion means Anthony Cope moves to scrum half.
Tom Jelley shifts to fly half, Harry Warman and Andy Noyce come in at full back and wing respectively, while Alasdair Maspero, Joey Todd and Jack Cosins drop out.
Michael Forde replaces Luke Brown at lock. Flanker Charlie Sammut returns on the bench after recovering from a fractured cheekbone sustained while playing for Malta.
Team manager Steve Chadbone said: “We have completely forgotten about last week’s 40-3 defeat to Barnstaple.
“Nobody turned up for it and we were all very disappointed. This is a must-win game.”
He added: “Tevita is looking really sharp in training.”
Oxford Blue Gavin Turner and Ali James, the students’ head physio, come in at centre for Henley Hawks’ National 2 South clash with Old Albanians at Dry Leas.
They replace injured duo Alex Cheesman and Danny Wells, while Xavier Andre returns on the wing.
Fly half George Bibby, wing Phil Gouldie, centre Thom Murton and lock Scott Mortimer are added to the Witney squad to host Buckingham in South West 1 East.
TOMORROW’S TEAMS
Henley Hawks (v Old Albanians, home): Allen (capt), Bart, James, Turner, Andre, Comben, Holmes, Milford-Scott, Church, Penny, Winterbottom, P Elder, Woodward, Newman, M Payne. Reps: Hepburn, Brennan, Cross-land, Dave Wells, C Elder.
Chinnor (v Redingensians, away): from Colver, Seymour, Goode, Stoop, R Williams, Prinsloo, Cathcart, Jones, Winpenny (capt), Tattersall, Pickett, Whelan, Mowbray, Smith, Jackman, Ramsdale, Harrison, Gilbert.
Oxford Harlequins (v Newbury Blues, away): Warman, Noyce, Nutt, Vaikona, Burn, Jelley, A Cope, Steventon, Chadbone (capt), Hall, Forde, Clayton, Farahani, Vaiomo’unga, Watkins. Reps: Edney, Sammutt, tbc.
Witney (v Buckingham, home): from Purkiss, Gouldie, L Collins, J Lamb, Murton, Monks, G Bibby, G Campbell, Burke, Fuller, S Collins, Richens, Haire, Bennett, Mortimer, M Copperwheat, C Campbell, J Hicks (capt).
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