Ahead of the Pack: Champs gear up for home opener
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Ealing Trailfinders welcome Chinnor to Trailfinders Sports Ground in first home game.
The action continues in Round 2 of Champ Rugby with a match-up between two of last year’s heavy hitters as well as first away games for new pair Worcester and Richmond.
Here is everything you need to know about the line-up of games:
London Scottish v Nottingham – Friday October 10, Kick-off 7.45pm
Nottingham travel to the Athletic Ground looking to make it two from two after their impressive opening success at home to Doncaster Knights.
The Archers have made two changes from that team with Michael Etete earning a first Nottingham start, while George Timmins is into the back row.
Scottish have made four changes from the side that lost at Caldy, including a debut for Murray Bellis on the wing.
The Exiles have also made two changes in the props, important against a Nottingham team that won all their scrums last week, while they will hope that fly-half Fraser Honey can continue to control territory having kicked 368 metres last week, second most of any player on the opening weekend.
Doncaster Knights v Cambridge – Saturday October 10, Kick-off 2.30pm
Doncaster Knights will try to bounce back against Cambridge after a 26-8 defeat to Nottingham on the opening night.
They will hope for more success in the kicking game, having retained 22.7% of their kicks in Round 1, the best of any side, resulting in five retained kicks in all.
Three of those came from kicks by scrum-half Ollie Fox, who kicked in play more than any other player.
They face a Cambridge team who have been very strong in the kicking department themselves, generally kicking deeper as they average 37.3 metres per kick.
Cambridge looked good in attack last week, notching a try bonus point, even if they were well beaten by Ampthill, 45-24.
Hartpury v Worcester Warriors – Saturday October 10, Kick-off 2.30pm
The standout result of the opening round came at the Mennaye Field were Hartpury came away from Cornish Pirates with a brilliant win.
Considering the turnover in the coaching staff over the summer, Mark Cornwell will have been thrilled, but he now faces another stiff task as Worcester Warriors come to town.
Worcester marked their return to competitive action with a comeback win over Coventry, overturning a 19-7 deficit to win 29-19.
They lead the Champ in tackle turnovers with four, and made 11 total turnovers, equal best in the competition.
Hartpury’s win in Cornwall was based on a strong mauling game, with hooker Will Crane grabbing two tries as a result.
Ampthill v Cornish Pirates – Saturday October 10, Kick-off 3pm
With seven tries scored on the opening weekend, Ampthill showed off their attacking flair under new coach Dave Ward, in part thanks to 26 defenders beaten against Cambridge.
It was not all thanks to expansive attack though, with Ampthill particularly good at retaining their kicks, including three off kicks from new scrum-half Efan Jones.
They also lead the league in jackals with six, with Charles Rylands particularly effective in that area.
They face a Cornish Pirates side who started slowly and could not complete a comeback at home to Hartpury.
Gavin Cattle’s men lead the league in carries with 138, and post-contact metres (164), and they also made more offloads than any other team.
Caldy v Richmond – Saturday October 10, Kick-off 3pm
Caldy face a London side who play their club rugby at the Athletic Ground for the second week running as Richmond head to Paton Field a week on from Scottish.
The Ravers’ season-opener ended with a 26-10 success, but they were pushed hard for large parts of the game.
In the end, Caldy’s work at the breakdown, with 11 total turnovers, and the kicking game of Kieran Wilkinson – who kicked 513 metres – proved crucial to their success.
Richmond hit the ground running on their return to the Champ, thanks in large part to four lineout steals.
In their victory over Chinnor, full-back Greg Kitson made two initial breaks and carried the second most of any player with 146 metres made.
Coventry v Bedford Blues – Saturday October 10, Kick-off 3pm
Coventry and Bedford were two of Ealing Trailfinders’ biggest rivals a year ago, but both will be hoping to bounce back from an opening day defeat.
Cov were very good in their restart retention, winning back a third of their restarts, while Morgan Strong made the second most carries in his competitive debut for the club.
They take on a Bedford team who made 26 dominant carry contacts, with Lucas Titherington crucial to that as he made 13 carries in all.
Add in a perfect scrum against Ealing, as well as a good lineout, and Bedford have the foundations in place to turn things around.
Ealing Trailfinders v Chinnor – Saturday October 10, Kick-off 3pm
Ealing laid down a marker at Bedford last week and in Tobi Wilson, they have one of the most dangerous players in the league.
As well as his two tries in round one, he also beat eight defenders, while David Douglas Bridge racked up five dominant tackle contacts, an area where Trailfinders lead the league with 14 in all.
Chinnor will have to find a way to cope with that but can turn to their watertight defence to try to slow Ealing down.
They made 166 tackles against Richmond, the most of any team, but also missed the second fewest – a strong combination.
And in the set-piece, Jamie Campbell’s league-leading three lineout steals could be important in denying Ealing ball.
