PREVIEW – Newbury (H)
A sold out pre-match lunch as we welcome our Vice Presidents and Ex-Players back to Water Lane for a crunch game in the league against a side at the wrong end of the table but certainly dangerous, Newbury.
MATCH: Tottonians v Newbury
VENUE: Water Lane, Totton, SO40 3ZX
COMPETITION: Regional Division 2 South Central
DATE: Saturday 16th November 2024
KICK-OFF: 2:00pm
ADMISSION: FREE (as always!)
LIVE MATCH UPDATES: On our Twitter/X channel @Tottonians
OVERVIEW:
So here we are for our first home game with a 2pm kick-off of the season and we welcome Newbury to Water Lane for match number nine of the league campaign.
If there was a bookie taking wagers on the game, a little look at the league table would, no doubt, have people lumping their hard earned on a firm home win. Top of the table and unbeaten Tottonians, playing at home where they have lost just three in the last 35 since the return to action in 2021 taking on a Newbury side down in tenth place with one win this season and winless in their last five.
You really think that is going to make a blind bit of difference to the contest?
Not at all – Newbury are more than a decent side and despite winning just one game from eight, their points difference is only -37 and they have conceded the small matter of seven more points than Tottonians have in the same amount of games. The Blues also have the same amount of bonus points (7) as Totts do with four of their seven defeats earning them a losing one.
So lay your money at your peril. Tottonians will be looking to continue their outstanding start to the season and build on the impressive 44-15 victory at Andover last weekend (and hoping that the Hampshire All Blacks can do a number on Farnham, the other unbeaten side in the division), in that game tallying a ninth game in a row where they have scored over 25 points.
We recommend that you get in early for this one – the 3rd XV are also at home and lunch is, as mentioned, a complete sell out so parking will be at a premium.
Kick-off is 2pm and entry, as it always is at Tottonians Rugby Club, is FREE.
TEAM NEWS:
As has been the case throughout the season, the Tottonians selection merry-go-round spins again with a few changes from last weekend’s win over Andover.
Josh Raqio replaces the unavailable Dylan Kirk on the wing while Jamie Laing returns to the side in the centre with Josh Andrews away.
The half-backs and front row remain unchanged but Callum Turvey in the second row and Oli Northover in the back row are back while Alex Robinson makes the first XV squad for the first time this season on the bench.
HISTORY and STATS:
Saturday will be just the 5th league meeting between the sides since the first back in September 2022 – Tottonians have won three and Newbury just the one, in the first meeting at Monks Lane.
Newbury ran out 41-17 victors in that September game before the return fixture went almost identically in reverse, Totts winning 40-19 at Water Lane. Last season, Tottonians completed the double over the former National League outfit, winning 29-10 across the Berkshire border in November 2023 and a comfortable 26-7 triumph in March this year on our home patch.
We look forward to this game and welcoming everyone who has made the trip down the A34 today. Entry is free.
