Duo all set for BUCS Super Rugby debut as Team Bath welcome Durham to Sports Training Village
Team Bath men’s 1st XV will be looking to bounce back from last week’s agonisingly close defeat to Cardiff Met tonight (Wednesday, 6.30pm) as they welcome Durham to the University of Bath Sports Training Village.
The Blue & Gold, sponsored by Fulkers and MJ Church, go into the match having won four out of their last five games and will be hoping for a different result this time around after being edged out 30-24 when they faced Durham at Rosslyn Park RFC earlier in the season.
Durham have lost their last two games but will be hungry to get back to winning ways as they make the long trip down to Bath for what is sure to be a closely-contested affair.
With captain and Bath Rugby Academy player Tom Doughty unavailable this week, England U20 international Beck Cutting will make his first start of the season at hooker after recently playing against Saracens for Worcester Warriors in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Hugo Stiles takes over the captain’s armband and is one of three Hong Kong internationals starting among the backs, along with Alex Nisbett and fresher Paul Altier. The latter is one of two players making their BUCS Super Rugby debuts in Blue & Gold as third-year Will Stride starts at full-back.
Kick-off is 6.30pm and admission to spectators is free so come and back the boys in Blue & Gold.
Tonight’s teams
Team Bath starting XV: 15 Will Stride, 14 Finn Murphy, 13 Will Hughes, 12 Alex Nisbett, 11 Paul Altier, 10 Hugo Stiles (c), 9 Ed Rimmer; 1 George Cave, 2 Beck Cutting, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Kas Eelman, 5 Jordan Martin, 6 Jack Kenningham, 7 Chris Barry, 8 James Catlin. Replacements: 16 James Hadfield, 17 Austin Hay, 18 Simone Ngeng, 19 Cameron Keys, 20 Josh Lilly, 21 George Wootten, 22 Miles Gilbert, 23 Ethan Hutt.
Durham starting XV: 15 Saul Melvin Farr, 14 Jack Hedley, 13 Matt Welsh, 12 Charlie Wilson, 11 Myles Rawstron Rudd, 10 Paddy McDuell, 9 Jacob Collin; 1 Jack Conteh, 2 Oscar Boe, 3 Sam Hughes, 4 Colin Markham (c), 5 Henry Paremain, 6 Josh Basham, 7 Fitz Harding, 8 Ben Fowles. Replacements: 16 Freddie Davies, 17 Scott Bowerman, 18 Toby Woods, 19 Marijn Huis, 20 Chris Johnston, 21 Alex Skinner, 22 Charlie Spawforth, 23 Tom Lewis.
Referee: Ieuan Davies.
Assistant referees: Oli Carey, Mark Doran.
Fourth official: Brad Bignell.
