After another intense night of training in the glorious sunshine that is the English Spring Head Coach Ty Watson has named a powerful yet slightly altered First Grade Team to take on fierce local rivals Derby City.
With last years Young Player of the Year Stuart Lee pulling out last night at training with a brusied shoulder, he joins injured players Mark Hyslop (thumb), Rhiddian Booth (knee) and Ron Banks on the long term injury list.
Bears First Team Debuts are handed to Neil Hanna, Rich Whitehouse, Matt Cooper, Phil Malloy, Dave Hartley, Ben Powis and Tim Farnden.
1 FULLBACK RICH WHITEHOUSE
2 WING BEN POWIS
3 CENTRE NEIL HANNA
4 CENTRE CHRIS BROWN
5 WING TOM SHAW
6 FIVE EIGHT GRAHAM HEALEY
7 HALF BACK ALEX BROWN ©
8 PROP ALAN ROBINSON
9 HOOKER MATT ALLSOPP
10 PROP TIM FARNDEN
11 SECOND ROW LEE ASHFORD
12 SECOND ROW AARON JARVIS
23 LOCK TY WATSON
13 INTERCHANGE TANAKA CHAMUNOKARA
14 INTERCHANGE MATT COOPER
15 INTERCHANGE TIM STEVENS
16 INTERCHANGE PETER PARKER
17 INTERCHANGE DAVE HARTLEY
18 INTERCHANGE PHIL MALLOY
19 INTERCHANGE SCOTT CLENDENNING – FENTON
When asked after training his thoughts behind this new look Bears team that has only 11 members of last years Grand Final Team – Coach Watson quipped “This is a very exciting team, with a blend of experience with Robinson, Ninja and myself, some players that are now becoming senior players: Allsopp, Healey, Shaw and some very exciting young talent in Cooper, Powis, Kuvarega, Hanna and Hartley”
Watson also remarked that Academy Coach Peter Parker deserves a special mention as 3 members of this squad are graduates from last years Academy.
Special thoughts today go a fellow Bear and member of last years Grand Final Team – Mike Whetsone. All our thoughts are with you and your family mate. All the best and see you soon.
Kick off is at 12pm at Haslams – Derby City Rugby Leagues new ground.
The Bears Convey leaves OC Stadium at 945. Be there at 930!!
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