Blues taste Bassett's champion-winning all-sorts

Colts in line to join squad hit by enforced changes

NEWBURY BLUES face their second set of league newcomers in succession when they open their home programme in South West One East against Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday.

After winning at last season’s Southern Counties North champions Reading Abbey last week, Blues turn their attentions to the Southern Counties South title winners as Bassett make their first competitive visit to Monks Lane.

The Wiltshire side narrowly lost their opener at fancied Maidenhead last week and, said Blues head coach Lee Goodall: “We are certainly wary after the way their game went against Maidenhead, so we certainly won’t be taking them lightly.”

Blues are forced into a number of changes for the game with Josh Winfield suspended, Kyle Doel an injury doubt and Robbie Drysdale, Josh Bartlett, Iain Herriott and Mike Walker all out.

But Ollie Spanswick, Chris Guyatt, Anthony Hackett and Alex Millar are available and Drysdale is set to be replaced by former Colt George Anderson.

Blues are also considering pitching another former colt into the mix with Alex Sparkes on stand-by to replace winger Walker.