PREVIEW – North Dorset (H)
Tottonians look to return to winning ways after the disappointment of last weekend’s trip to Farnham with a couple of back-to-back home league games – starting on Saturday against league newcomers North Dorset.
MATCH: Tottonians v North Dorset
VENUE: Water Lane, Totton, SO40 3ZX
COMPETITION: Regional Division 2 South Central
DATE: Saturday 7th December 2024
KICK-OFF: 2:00pm
ADMISSION: FREE (as always!)
LIVE MATCH UPDATES: On our Twitter/X channel @Tottonians
OVERVIEW:
There is no time to lick any wounds, Tottonians lost their unbeaten record last weekend at Farnham but the games come thick and fast and we welcome North Dorset to Water Lane for the very first time in a league game, looking to get back to winning ways and maintain the pressure on at the top of the table.
Yes, it was disappointing, especially in the first half, but there is still 12 games to play this season and a lot still to play for. The men from Gillingham will not be an easy prospect to face as they are a side that has won four of their 10 games to date and came into this league as winners of Counties 1 Southern South, soaring to the title seven points clear of Swanage and Wareham and Sherborne.
Our opponents are something of an unknown but the simple statistics are that they are in eighth place but all four of their successes have come at home, losing their 100% home record last weekend against Newbury.
With Tottonians’ home record of 33 wins from 36 since 2021 against North Dorset’s five defeats on their travels, you certainly wouldn’t bet against a home win – but confidence has taken a hit and the injuries and unavailability is casting a shadow over the Totts squad so it has the makings of a nervy afternoon.
Kick-off is at 2pm and don’t forget, there is the club Christmas Party in the evening so why not make a day of it!
TEAM NEWS:
There is a whole host of changes to the Tottonians XVIII for this game with unavailability and injury stretching the squad to the limit!
Starting in the backs, Jamie Laing returns at full-back with Ethan Riley switching to fly-half in place of Robbie Searle. Alex Robinson gets his first 1st XV start of the season in the centre with Josh Andrews out after suffering an injury last weekend.
In the pack, Cam Flint goes from back row to second row to front row in the space of three games while Kevin Raqio starts for the first time this season having come off the bench throughout the previous 10 games. Ali Ramus slots back into the second row, Oli King steps up to blindside with Connor Andrews moving across to openside.
And there are recalls for the evergreen Mark Amey, the club’s leading point scorer this season in Rich Colmer and Rich O’Donnell, back in the frame having missed the last few weeks with injury!
Think that is all of them!
HISTORY and STATS:
In terms of league fixtures, North Dorset is a new name on the list – the 98th different team that Tottonians will have faced since the formation of the RFU leagues in 1987.
But there are many of a certain vintage within the club who will remember, with some trepidation, their trips to Gillingham back in the pre-league days on the late 1970s and early 1980s – they were not games for the feint hearted by all accounts.
So we welcome everyone who will be making the journey across from Dorset for today’s game – and we will look forward to heading back in March 2025 for a trip down memory lane!
