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Barking vs Hove Preview

Barking vs Hove Preview

Phil Ward20 Oct 2017 - 17:33
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Hove return to league action with a trip to Barking

Hove return to league action after getting knocked out in the first round against Twickenham last week. A few key players were rested for that game and the team will be looking to get a good victory against a struggling Barking side.

The Opposition - Barking Rugby Club

Barking started just three years before us in 1930, as Park Modern Old Boys before changing their name in 1976 to Barking Rugby Club. They enjoyed a couple of seasons in the old National 2 (level 3, now called National 1) but the club where England international Jason Leonard started playing has had a fall from grace since then, falling from level 4 to level 7 since the 2012/13 season. Their season so far has been a tough one and they currently sit on the bottom of the table with 5 losses including heavy defeats to Dartfordians and Horsham. That said, it's a long trip up to Essex and Barking will be looking to turn around their fortunes.

Squad News

Hove have made several changes from the team that beat Old Alleynian two weeks ago - Pat Andrews returns from injury and Luke Torres is back after defeating Hungary for Gibraltar. In the backline, Phil Dugard is once again available and returns to the fly-half spot with Carles Casanova moving out to the wing. Kip Wallace comes on to the bench.

Player to Watch

Pat Andrews joined Hove at the end of December 2013. Although he played a few games, a shoulder injury brought a halt to his playing and subsequently he re-injured his shoulder on his return to training which resulted in surgery. He returned to the field properly last season and spent some time at number 8. Always charismatic (polite for loud), he's a leader on the field and was captain of the team at the Sussex Cup final last season. The self-styled Red Lightning is now back in his regular position of hooker as part of the always-improving scrum and we'll be looking forward to the front row contest on Saturday.

Pat Andrews is sponsored by Jamie Angus - thanks to Jamie for his sponsorship. If you're interested in sponsoring a player, please email andy.ward@hoverugby.club

The Team

1. Declan Peake
2. Patrick Andrews
3. Ryan Storer
4. Kyle Woollard
5. Ian William
6. Christopher Knott
7. Luke A Torres
8. Rob Ward
9. Rob Biggs
10. Phil Dugard
11. Carles Casanova
12. Martin Macdonald
13. Ryan Morlen
14. Nick Paddy Paddenburg
15. Sam Whiting

Replacements

16. Christopher Wallace
17. Adrian Shergold
18. Jerome Pye

Further reading