YMCA’s coaches will be warning their unbeaten side not to get caught up in what is bound to be an emotional occasion when they visit Dinnington tomorrow (3.00).
Last week, the Sheffield club lost one of their former players, coaches and general stalwarts, Robert Hurdley, who was tragically killed during an incident in a pub. And that is certain to inspire Dinnington to greater efforts.
“Dinnington is always a tough place to go irrespective of the League positions, and the events of last weekend will only make them even more determined to put on a show,” said assistant coach Jody Shaw.
“We had a real slog with them last year, and we must be patient and really work on them. Our confidence is really high after seven wins with maximum points, but we will have to produce the same sort of defensive effort we showed against Bridlington, when we prevented them scoring a single try, while playing to our strengths in attack, if we are to maintain our good start to the season.”
Director of rugby Damon Scholes is back at the helm this week, after a family holiday, but has had to re-shuffle his back division, following a couple of injuries last week.
Full-back Matt Johnson suffered a recurrence of a calf strain, so his place in taken by Gavin Stead, who drops back from the wing, while on the opposite flank Nick Clarke suffered an ankle injury and will be out for a couple of weeks.
Those changes mean a starting place for Stuart Morton, who scored a good try last week, and looks back to his sharp best, while Lloyd Bentley comes onto the other wing for his maiden first team game of the season.
Elsewhere the side is the similar to the one which destroyed Bridlington, the other change coming in the front row, where Darren Neilly is out and Stuart Dyke and Fabrizio Leone-Mazza come into the squad.
YMCA: (from) Stead, Bentley, Ryder, Barber, Morton; Clayton, Wilson; Wrafter, Ste Dyke; Housley, Bell, Sharrock, Hodge, Whitehead, Lumb, Dyson, Stu Dyke, Leone-Mazza.
