RUGBY: Teams return to league action after festive break

Saints and Welsh start new year at the top of their tables
By Zoe Ashton
Published 31st Dec 2019, 10:54 BST
Updated 31st Dec 2019, 10:55 BST
Rugby Lions host Olney at Webb Ellis Road on Saturday - hoping to improve on their narrow defeat at Old Northamptonians just before Christmas, where captain Chris Wood is pictured with Dan Parrington and Joshua Czerpak PICTURE BY RAY ANDREWSRugby Lions host Olney at Webb Ellis Road on Saturday - hoping to improve on their narrow defeat at Old Northamptonians just before Christmas, where captain Chris Wood is pictured with Dan Parrington and Joshua Czerpak PICTURE BY RAY ANDREWS
Rugby Lions host Olney at Webb Ellis Road on Saturday - hoping to improve on their narrow defeat at Old Northamptonians just before Christmas, where captain Chris Wood is pictured with Dan Parrington and Joshua Czerpak PICTURE BY RAY ANDREWS

The town’s rugby teams are back in league action on Saturday after the festive break.

Newbold will be glad to get out onto the field after an extra-long lay-off, their last fixture with Worcester having been postponed.

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They last played on December 14, beating Lichfield by a single point.

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Old Laurentians will welcome league leaders Stratford to Fenley Field on Saturday. Pictured is Jordan Bunn in OLs' win over Evesham in early December PICTURE BY MIKE BAKEROld Laurentians will welcome league leaders Stratford to Fenley Field on Saturday. Pictured is Jordan Bunn in OLs' win over Evesham in early December PICTURE BY MIKE BAKER
Old Laurentians will welcome league leaders Stratford to Fenley Field on Saturday. Pictured is Jordan Bunn in OLs' win over Evesham in early December PICTURE BY MIKE BAKER

This weekend’s hosts are Old Halesonians, who are ninth in Midlands 1 West, just one place and five points below Newbold.

Over in Midlands 1 East, Rugby Lions have a home game with Olney.

Lions managed to win their last game at Webb Ellis Road by just two points, 22-20 against Melbourne. But in their pre-Christmas fixture lost 26-19 at Old Northamptonians.

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Lions are ninth in the table, with their visitors down in 13th with just one win so far this season.

Old Laurentians will welcome Midlands 2 West (South) leaders Stratford Upon Avon to Fenley Field this weekend.

After a good run of results in recent weeks, OLs lost their last game of 2019 to a strong third-placed Malvern side 36-7, while Stratford finished the year with a 31-16 victory over Nuneaton Old Eds in a top-of-the-table clash.

OLs are fifth in the division with six wins and 29 points from their 11 games.

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Both Rugby St Andrews and Rugby Welsh start 2020 as the teams to beat at the top of their divisions.

Saints, with just a single defeat so far in their 11 Midlands 3 West (South) games, travel to 11th-placed Burbage.

Saints rounded off 2019 with a 45-5 victory over bottom club Bedworth, bouncing back from a 15-12 upset by mid-table Alcester.

Rugby Welsh kick off the new year by visiting second-placed Chaddesley Corbett, who are five points behind but with a game in hand.

In-form Welsh’s last Midlands 5 West (South) game saw them beat Bishops Castle & Onny Valley 12-8.