By D Whittle
Huddersfield’s Falcons are making the most of the first teams break in fixtures to name a strong team against Dinnington.
With no first team fixture this weekend, the Falcons are able to select a strong side and are able call upon returning senior players.
The Falcons name Alex Battye and James Davies to join Takis Kalogeropolous in a massive front row, whilst Thomas Van Rooyen and Will Brian will look to further their claims to be first team regulars.
First team manager Lee Paxman may need to call upon Falcons players, as the club has a number of injuries.
He said: “The players will obviously look to make a strong impact and put their names forward for selection in the coming weeks.
“The addition of these new faces will certainly help the squad and keep competition sky high.
Whilst Van Rooyen and Brian have featured in the first team, Paxman will certainly be keeping his eye on Henry Ward, who has a made good impression with a number of fine performances.
Paxman said: “Henry has been catalyst for all the strong Falcons performances this season. He leads by example and he never stops working for the team.
“It’s unfortunate that he was unavailable for the Sale fixture because he deserves an opportunity with the first team.
As well as the senior players, Huddersfield welcome new faces such as Tom Bills who joins from Bradford & Bingley. Having had limited opportunities at Bradford, Bills will know that this is a key weekend to impress.
Although the first XV enjoy a well-deserved week off, Paxman knows that this a key period where strength in depth will be tested.
He said: “Sitting top with a seven point cushion is brilliant at this stage in the season but we cannot rest. We’ve a number of injuries to key players so the strength in depth has been severely tested.”
Falcons:
1. Alex Battye
2. James Davies
3. Takis Kalogeropolous
4. Ben Royds
5. Egor Popovschi
6. Joe Kaye
7. Henry Ward (c)
8. Ross Thornton
9. William Brian
10. Tom Bills
11. Elliot Knight
12. Thomas Van Rooyen
13. Harry Whitefield
14. Alex Brook
15. George Hunt
Subs:
16. Dan Jeffery
17. Howard Hanks
18. Olly Dennis
19. Andy Kirk
20. Ajibola Oki
