By David Wilkinson
We welcome Clifton to Macclesfield, for the first time, another first in our 150 years of rugby, and for Clifton, the oldest club in Bristol, their 152nd season.
On paper it’s a miss-match, Clifton sits in second spot, Macclesfield sits 2nd from the bottom place, and the stats are mirrored in the favour of the visitors; but in rugby, there’s always an opportunity, always a chance to unsettle the applecart. The Boys in Blue, do not lack in confidence, they are at home with the Macclesfield faithful behind them, and they know how to cross the whitewash.
Macclesfield will be without Dan Percival for the first time since I don’t know when! Percy has been our rock at Loosehead Prop for some considerable time, but is sadly sidelined on Saturday. Replacing Percy, at short notice, was a bit of a challenge, but Director of Rugby, Matt Coleridge, has tempted Tumy Onasanya, to debut with the Boys in Blue on Saturday. Tumy came to Rugby Union late, starting in the 13-man game, but he has crashed and battered his way through the age grades, and at 22 is a Sharks sensation, the real deal, and one to watch on Saturday.
The Ladies of our Women’s Rugby squad have taken over the pre-match lunch, so expect a raucous Stand: “Tumy, Tumy, Tumy”, and hopefully plenty of “Whaa-Hoos”.
The team is: 1. Tumy Onasanya, 2. Ollie Longmore, 3. Andy Darlington, 4, Ben Blackburn 5. Harry Harding, 6. Harry Hughes 7. Phil Laing, 8. James Oliver, 9. Mason Winterburn, 10. Tom Farrell, 11. Jamie Harrison, 12. Harry Oliver, 13. Sam Adu, 14. Tom Jennings, 15. Billy Birkett, 16. Ted Broadley, 17. Theo Hulbert, 18. Elliot Alston 19. Elliot Thompson, 20. Danny Martin.
