RUGBY: Noyce given key role by Quins

2:46pm Thursday 13th November 2008

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Oxford Harlequins coach John Brodley is banking on experience in a key position for their South West 1 clash at home to Weston-super-Mare tomorrow.

Brodley has switched Andy Noyce from wing to fly-half as Quins seek to move away from the bottom of the table.

Noyce replaces Will Clarke, who goes to the bench after making his debut in last week’s 25-22 defeat away to Exmouth.

“Will enjoyed a fine debut but I feel for this game we need a bit more experience at fly half,” explained Brodley.

“However, Will has the capacity to change a game – that’s why he is on the bench.”

Another change behind the scrum sees Huw Jones re-turn at full back, with Nick Sevier moving to the wing.

This is Sevier’s third different position in as many games, having been previously switched from the centre following the arrival of Shaunn Lombard.

“Shaunn has formed a good centre partnership with Neil Spotteswood, but Nick is too good a player to leave out of the side altogether,” added Brodley.

Upfront Ben Nicholl moves to lock following his powerful display against Exmouth, while Paul DeLange is un-available.

Brodley said: “The key to beating Weston will be to stop their back row and half backs from playing well, as they have scored two-thirds of their team’s points.”

Another team to lose narrowly last week were Chin-nor, who went down 20-14 to a late try against Dings Crusaders in National 3 South.

Coach Jason Bowers adds returning second row forward Duncan Williams to an otherwise unchanged squad for their trip to play second-placed Ealing.

Chinnor have been on the wrong end of a serieus of close results this season.

“Only London Scottish have taken us apart, and we’ve picked up plenty of bonus points,” said Bowers.

“This league is so competitive that you just cannot afford to make mistakes.

Henley Hawks should have an easier time of it away to bottom club Havant.

For the first time for over a month, Hawks’ coach Jason Forster is hoping to be able to select from almost an injury free squad.

The only pla-yer not available is Angelo Fammilia who is at present representing the RAF at a rugby league Services Tournament in South Africa.

This means that the versatile backs Jack Shaylor and Scott Simmons come back into the reckoning.

The pack, after their good showing last week against Ealing, will probably be unchanged.

Only Simon Tattersall will be missing as he recovers from a niggling injury.

Wallingford make two enforced changes to the backs for the trip to Salisbury in South West Division 2 East.

Full back Henry Venners and Nick Risk are unavailable and are replaced by Angus Brettell and Richard Turner respectively.

SATURDAY'S TEAMS.

SATURDAY'S Chinnor (v Ealing away): from Winpenny, Whelan, Ellis, Cawston, Baker, Eckert, Hutchings, D Williams, Jackman, Jackson,Hastings, M Williams, Rowley, Prescott, Hewitt, Oxley, Powell, Serrano, R Williams, Wallace, Shiel.

Henley Hawks (v Havant, away): from Smith, Shaylor, Baggett, Wells, Davies, Simmons, Turner, Fulton, Gaunt, Milford-Scott, Matthews, Fuller, Hoosen-Owen, Clements, Green, Nixon, Payne (capt), S Williams, A Dupee, Hennings.

Oxford Harlequins (v Weston-super-Mare, home, meet 1): Jones, Campbell, Spotteswood, Lombard, Sevier, Noyce, Cope, Chadbone, Needham, Ferreira, Nicholl, McDowell, Gerber, Young DuRandt. Reps: Boulton, Clarke, Sewell.

Oxford Harlequins 2nd (v Henley Wands 2nd, away, meet Southern Bypass, 12.30pm).

Oxford Harlequins 3rd (v Didcot, home, meet Southern Bypass, 1pm).

Oxford Harlequins 4th (v Littlemore 2nd, home, meet 1pm).

Witney (v Marlow, home) from Gouldie, Phillips, L Collins, Strutt, Tustin, J Lamb, Monks, G Bibby, G Campbell, Brocklebank, Groeblar, Richens, Serle, Fowler, Bennett, Worrall, C Campbell, Caffekey.

Wallingford (v Salisbury, away): Brettell, R Turner, Collett, Holton, Sayce, Pooler, Viljoen, Keable Blasko, Lewis, M Turner, D Jenkins, Hill, Jeffrey