Few Changes for Devon Visit

Alan Thomas
Sep 7, 2018
2 min read

St Ives travel to Devonport tomorrow with few surprises in their line-up. The excellent performance of last week against Cullompton has made selection far from a head ache.

In the front row, Kye Beasley starts with Leigh Hocking on the bench. Ben Taylor moves to hooker, allowing head coach, Rob Elloway, to be rested. Ben Jenkins takes up the other prop position. The second and back rows are unchanged. New signings Sam Bartle (Hooker) and Ben Watson (second row) complete the bench.

The backs have just one change; Joe Parma makes way for last week’s debutant, James ‘Tug’ Wilson on the wing. Jack Kessell is fit to play at full back after taking a knock on the thigh in last Saturday’s opening league fixture.

The Hakes have lost their last two visits to the Plymouth based servicemen, although less and less of their side are such these days. On a very hot September afternoon two years ago, the game should have been won, but mistakes and some excellent place kicking from fly half Matt Anstis brought a result of 29:23. Seven of tomorrow’s team will want to make amends for that.

In April, after the Hakes had won the league, twelve of tomorrow’s team lost 39:25. A win would be a very welcome change in fortunes. As for Devonport, they were on the end of a pounding 49:5 at Okehampton. They will be very keen to give a much better performance.

The kick-off is at 3:00pm. The full squad is