Stourbridge forced to make changes

Dec 8 2006

STOURBRIDGE expect to ring the changes ahead of tomorrow's trip to Norfolk side North Walsham in the EDF Energy National Trophy.

Injuries robbed Stour of nine first-team regulars in last week's 30-23 defeat at Wharfedale.

But spokesman Ian Cole said: "We were very encouraged by what we saw considering we had so many key players missing."

Winger Greg Summers, scrum-half Chris Rowley, centre Alex White, hooker David Herdman and flankers Tim Breakwell and Bruce Thomas are all likely to get their chance at North Walsham.

Stour will also experiment with scrum-half Tom Richardson switching to fly-half in place of the highly-rated Sam Robinson, who is out for several weeks through injury.

Cole feels there could be a backlash following their last meeting with North Walsham two years ago.

On that occasion, North Walsham beat Stour at Stourton only to be kicked out of the competition after fielding an ineligible player.