RAMS Titans make three changes to their starting line-up as they seek a sixth consecutive Raging Bull Shield Division One success at Rosslyn Park Rangers tomorrow (noon).
Hooker Ollie Moffitt and tight-head Harry Etwell – who impressed in Berkshire Under 20s’ convincing 43-7 victory at home to Hampshire last Sunday – return to the front row, where they are joined by Sean McDonnell-Roberts, the Welshman switching to the loose-head for the trip to London.
Elsewhere the pack remains unchanged, with the powerful duo of Omar Ellaboudy and Colin Thomson in the engine room and the nicely-balanced back row of Liam Goodison, skipper Rory Paxton and No. 8 Ross Crame looking to try and follow up their excellent display against Richmond Saxons.
At half-back, youngsters Joe Booth and Sam Nicholls are again in tandem, while good friends Carl Morgan and Swedish international Axel Kalling-Smith – singled out for praise by coach Paddy Conlon following his efforts last week – team up in midfield for the second Saturday in a row.
Out wide Alex Manhardt and Lailand Gordon retain their positions on the wings, with the latter bagging a double against Saxons including his mesmerising solo effort which all but secured the victory.
The third and final change to the starting line-up comes at full-back, where Will Janes returns to the ranks following an impressive first season back at Old Bath Road having previously been at the club as a Mini.
A strong-looking bench features a pair of hookers who both made their mark last weekend, with Ian Brown starring for the Titans against Saxons and Spencer Hayhow scoring four tries while skippering the Berkshire U20s.
Another youngster to come through the junior section is Tom Plater, who provides cover at prop, while fit-again James McRae can cover all of the second and back rows.
Long-serving Craig Nightingale has been in good form recently and adds to the options in covering the flanks, while cover in the backs comes from scrum-half Alex Sparkes, Steffan James and back three man Finn Matthews.
Rams Titans v Rosslyn Park Rangers
(15-9; 1-8) Janes, Gordon, Kalling-Smith, Morgan, Manhardt; Nicholls, Booth; McDonnell-Roberts, Moffitt, Etwell, Ellaboudy, Thomson, Goodison, Paxton ©, Crame.
Substitutes: Brown, Hayhow, Nightingale, McRae, Sparkes, James, Matthews, Plater.