Blues prepare for Salisbury showdown

Saturday clashes at the top could shape league race

NEWBURY BLUES face a key battle in their bid to snatch a promotion slot in South West One East when they take on second in the table Salisbury at Monks Lane on Saturday.

On a day when leaders Towcestrans face third in the table Witney, results could se the top pair cement their positions, or the challengers close the gap to set up a real race to the finish.

“It’s a huge, huge weekend for us,” said Blues head coach Lee Goodall. “The top four play each other and potentially Towcestrians could get away if they beat Witney, but if we beat Salisbury and if Witney beat Towcester then all of a sudden it’s all squished up at the top.”

Salisbury beat Blues 23-20 in WIltshire earlier in the season and, said Godoall: “They have recruited some good players. They rely on their dominant pack but we’ve got a relatively dominant pack.

“We must also believe in our defence, which is still the best in the league.”

Goodall and his coaching team are pondering over team selection with Graham Stewart, Matt Horne and Ryan Trevaskis all returning to a 26-man squad from which they will make the final choice.

The game is likely to be played on one fo the outlying pitches at Monks Lane with the main pitch saturated, and the kick-off time has been brought forward to 2pm.