Lancashire make three changes in their starting line-up for the second game of the 2023 Sir Bill Beaumont County Championship against Hertfordshire at Hertford RFC on Saturday (ko 15.00). Injuries and unavailability have all played a part in the selection decisions.
In the backline, Tom Grimes is named on the wing (in effect, replacing his unavailable Fylde team mate Jordan Dorrington) and Will Hunt is at fly-half in place of the injured Greg Smith. The only change in the pack sees Sedgley Park’s Oscar Crowe at lock in place of injured Ollie Parkinson. Changes amongst the replacements sees Preston Grasshoppers’ Alastair Murray and Scott Richardson cover the forwards and Fylde’s Adam Lanigan (who stands by for his senior County debut) the backs.
The Red Rose county will be looking to build on their impressive opening performance by beating Cheshire 19-54 away at Birkenhead Park last Saturday. Hertfordshire were overwhelmed by a very strong Yorkshire side last Saturday and went down by 19-70.
1 Dan Birchall (Sale FC) (c), 2 Ben Gregory (Fylde), 3 Dan Rylance (Rotherham T), 4 Bob Birtwell (Sedgley P), 5 Oscar Crowe (Sedgley P), 6 Toby Harrison (Fylde), 7 Henry Higginson (Fylde), 8 David Fairbrother (Fylde).
9 Jacob Tansey (Sedgley P), 10 Will Hunt (Preston G); 11 Tom Grimes (Fylde), 12 Sam Russell (Blackburn), 13 Connor Wilkinson (Fylde), 14 Rhys Henderson (Sedgley P); 15 Jacob Browne (Preston G).
16 Ollie Trippier (Preston G), 17 Corey Bowker (Fylde), 18 Alastair Murray (Preston G), 19 Valu Tane Bentley (Sedgley P), 20 Scott Richardson (Preston G), 21 Adam Lanigan (Fylde), 22 Scott Rawlings (Fylde).
Travelling reserve: Gabriel Seriki (Sedgley Park).