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MATCH PREVIEW: 'THE SUPPORT MEANS SO MUCH TO THE PLAYERS'

MATCH PREVIEW: 'THE SUPPORT MEANS SO MUCH TO THE PLAYERS'

Rich Ashton2 Dec 2022 - 17:15
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Seb looks ahead to visit of high-flying Sale FC!

SEB Reynolds says his RAMS’ side are relishing the chance to play in front of a bumper Old Bath Road crowd as high-flying Sale FC arrive for an intriguing National One clash tomorrow (3pm).

The third-placed northerners have won their past five matches to set-up a huge contest at the top of the league, and Seb admitted: “All fixtures in National One are tough games, but this is the kind of one you do get really excited for.

“Every week seems to be something different, it was a buoyant Taunton side looking to bounce back and now it’s a quality Sale outfit who are having a really strong season.

“They’ve got a solid core to the side who they’ve had for a long time and have helped them up through the league, and then there’s a few Sale Sharks loanees added so it’s intriguing to see how we can match-up and do against that.

“They stay in the fight the whole way and it’s one of the impressive things about them – they’ve done it the whole time we’ve been in National One.”

RAMS make five changes to the side which set a club record for the best start to a league season at Taunton last time out, with Sean McDonnell-Roberts returning at tight-head prop, Connor Stapley and Dan Swain behind and Vince Everitt on the open-side flank.

Will Partington starting at fly-half is the one change in the back-line, with Seb explaining: “We’re very lucky in we’re able to pick between quality rugby players.

“Ollie Taylor has been doing brilliantly well in the second row but misses out this week – he’ll come back into contention for Cinderford – and Vinny missed out against Taunton, but it’s just an absolute luxury to be able to call on all these guys.

“Connor’s been a little bit unlucky with injuries this season but it’s great to have him back in, and Vinny’s just been an absolute dog all year and we love him.

“Will showed a real calm off the bench last week and you could see he’s been playing at a high level – he seemed very confident and assured of himself.

“When he reached out to come back to RAMS we were very excited to have him back and he’s shown his quality already.”

There are also two notable additions to the matchday squad on the bench, with hooker Ben Henderson and destructive tight-head prop James Baker having racked up more than 500 first-team caps between them.

A delighted Seb said: “James has had a couple of niggles and we really wanted to get him out for this game, while Ben is just a fantastic performer.

“He had a phenomenal game against Richmond Vikings last week, so it’s great to have these guys back.”

The DoR saved his final thoughts for the home supporters, who played a key role in helping their side overturn a second-half deficit in the most recent home game against Plymouth Albion.

And Seb concluded: “The players love the support and really feel it. Jak (Rossiter) was geeing the crowd up at one point and we’re really starting to feel it get stronger – it means so much to the players to have this.

“Crowds can prove crucial in these games – there’s a reason why there’s home advantage – and we’re looking forward to the RAMILY’s support again.”

To buy your ticket for what should be a cracker, click here

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