PREVIEW – Guildford (H)
After a week’s sabbatical in the league programme, Tottonians put their 100% record back on the line once again when they welcome a familiar and often troublesome Guildford to Water Lane on Saturday.
MATCH: Tottonians v Guildford
VENUE: Water Lane, Totton, SO40 3ZX
COMPETITION: Regional Division 2 South Central
DATE: Saturday 12th October 2024
KICK-OFF: 3:00pm
ADMISSION: FREE (as always!)
MATCH SPONSORS: DP World
LIVE MATCH UPDATES: On our Twitter/X channel @Tottonians
OVERVIEW:
For many years, the prospect of facing Guildford in a league game would send shivers through the spine in the Tottonians ranks. To say that Totts’ record against the Surrey side is indifferent would be kind at best – especially when faced with the challenge of travelling up the A31!
The hoodoo was broken last season when we finally ended our Broadwater duck at the ninth attempt at the start of the campaign and then closed it off with an entertaining 25-15 victory at Water Lane in the April sunshine to seal a first ever season double over them.
However, you can be certain that nothing will be taken for granted when the two sides face each other with league leaders Tottonians unbeaten, four from four with full bonus points collected up against a Guildford side still searching for their first win and sitting bottom of the ladder with three points from two try bonus’ and a losing one.
It matters not one iota, that is for sure! A narrow loss at Andover was followed by a home reverse to Farnham, an away defeat at Chobham and then a high-scoring tussle with Bournemouth which has certainly shown that the Guildford side that we know and feared from the days in London 3 SW, 2 SW and 1 South across a 13-year cycle are battling hard.
Refreshed from the weekend off after coming through two very hard examinations against Bournemouth at home and then Chichester away a fortnight ago, some of the injuries have been addressed and we head into the next three games before the next break, starting with key game before the trip south to Wimborne and then hosting local rivals Winchester.
Kick-off is 3pm and entry is, of course, free to everyone!
TEAM NEWS:
The main team news of the game is that three players will be celebrating 1st XV league milestones in this game. Scrum-half Harry Dolbear will be playing his 200th game while centre Josh Andrews his 100th and second row Charlie Quinn makes his first appearance of the season, which will be his 50th in a 1st XV shirt.
Rich O’Donnell returns to the starting line-up having missed the last couple of games with a hamstring injury and there is a switch in the back line with Jamie Laing going to fullback and George Hixon to the wing. Scott Rogers takes a place on the bench in a highly-experience replacements list with Kev Raqio and Ali Ramus.
HISTORY and STATS:
Today will be the 19th league meeting between the sides since the first, 21 years and one day ago on 11 October 2003 in London 3 South-West. As mentioned above, the historical record is heavily in favour of the visitors from Surrey who have won 11 of the 18 previous meetings.
However, the record at Water Lane is slightly more favourable for the home side with six wins from nine – including the 25-15 win on the last day of last season – something of a relief having suffered 3-47 and 19-31 losses on their previous visits in 2014 and 2016.
