Rance At Full Back

By Dave Picken - March 7 2003
Rance At Full Back
Dash
Tom Rance and Darren Thomas will swap places in the side which takes on top of the table Cleckheaton at Brinkburn - kick off 2.00 p.m. But there is still a doubt over Allan Milne who struggled through klast week's victory with his strained hamstring.

Rance has shown that he has a booming left foot and is safe under a high ball.

If Allan Milne is unfit Stabs could bring in try scoring supersub Phil Gilbraith at centre or use one of the wingers with Glnn Dono coming into the side.

The forwards will be unchanged and anxious to continue their good form of the past few weeks. they will have been cheered by the fact that the backs scored four tries last week - Gilly was at cnetre when he scored the last one.

John Bentley's side appear to have had a dip in form over the past few weeks going down at Macclesfield and achieving a nopt too convincing victory at Aspatria. Rumour has it that they have lost a couple of key players to Rugby league but the line up looks remarkably similar to the one which put 52 points past us on their ground. We scored 12 points ourselves that day with Carlo getting a good try but lost Nicky Parker and Bradley Stovell to serious injuries.

Despite the scoreline we did hold Cleckie for much of the game and it was only when our heads wnet down in the last 15 minutes that they ran in a bagful of points.

Bentley has built a hard uncompromising side and discipline could be the key to a good performance from West.

West Tom Rance, Tommy Barff, Allan Milne, Jamie Connolly, Darren Thomas, John Stabler, Davy Tighe, John Painter [capt], Brett Cullinane, Carl Robinson, Paul Rudd, Andrew Davies, Ed Britton, Stu Bennett, Tim Sawyer.

Reps from: Michael Geritz, Mark Baggs, Phil Gilbraith, Glynn Dono.

Cleckheaton Alex Green, Mark Doherty, John Bentley [capt], Jason Tozer, Michael Piper, Carl Paterson, Gary Smith, Neil Gillan, Steve Bishop, Carl Mason, Richard Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Craig West, Jamie Kaye, Oliver Akroyd.

Reps: Matt Garrety, Chris Willett, Simon Coy