SOUTH African Wian van Niekirk makes his first start of the season in the first team tomorrow against Leodiensians (3.00) with coach Damon Scholes having to ring the changes due to holidays and injuries.
Scholes is still without promising wing forward Sam Hodge – although he does get a run-out in the Seconds on his return from injury – while no-nonsense lock Karl Sibbons misses the match against the struggling Leeds outfit because of holiday and prop Will Sellars is a doubt after aggravating a calf injury.
Mark Lockwood comes into the second row, while Stephen Dyke – who along with his brother was outstanding in the loose last week at North Ribblesdale – moves up from No6 to prop alongside twin Stuart.
With Alex Shaw missing, play-anywhere man Tim Horner takes over at centre, leaving James Swift to resume his normal partnership with Simon Wilson at half-back in a game which Scholes will surely be targeting as a win, although they did go down by the odd point (23-22) at Leos earlier in the season.
YMCA: (v Leos, h, 3.00): Smith; Beever, Horner, Stead, Ryder; Swift, Wilson; Sanderson, Dyke (Stu), Dyke (Ste), Hellwell, Lockwood, Van Niekirk, Sharrock, Walker. Subs: Leonne-Mazza, Lyon, Sellars.
Seconds: (v Leos, a, 3.00): from: Willans; Emsley, Frankland, Wilson (P), Aurellio, Smith (A), Lockwood (T), Taylor, Hodge, Lumb, Kennedy, Watson, Stafford, Willetts, Marshall (G), Gregson.
Thirds: (v Leos, a, 3.00): Senior, Morton, Headifen, Fredrick, Wilkinson, Murphy, Dalton, Earnshaw, Sykes, Morgan, Jones, Carr, Stevens, Harris, Noble. Subs: Rimmer, Millar.
