Whitchurch are out to halt their lean run in Midlands One West in their penultimate game of the season at home to Nuneaton Old Edwardians on Saturday (3pm) after sliding to a fourth straight defeat last weekend.
It’s part one of a big weekend at Edgeley Park, for the club hold their 30th annual Colts festival on Sunday with the showpiece seeing the current Whitchurch Colts going head to head with Moseley in the semi-finals of the North Midlands Cup.
The Colts’ big game could impact on Ginger Wills’ selection plans against Nuneaton as several of the club’s younger brigade play for both sides.
The Reds, without a league win since February 13, saw their difficult run continue with a 12-5 defeat at Walsall.
The Edgeley Park men trailed 12-0 at the break, the damage inflicted by four penalties from fly half Matt Wood, and all Whitchurch could muster by way of reply was a late try from Mike Woodhouse in the corner following good work from Jimmy Mullock.
“We didn’t play particularly well,” said Whitchurch president John Gregory.
“The Walsall defence was very strong and we didn’t manage to break them down.
“Their fly half had a very good game and dictated the play for them.”
Gregory, whose side wrap up their season at home to second-placed Bournville on April 10 after taking on Nuneaton this weekend, added: “It’s a while since we last won a game so we’ll be looking to put that right.
“We want to win our last two games to end the season on a high.”
Meanwhile Shrewsbury ring the changes for the latest episode in their scramble for survival in Midlands Two West (North) at home to county rivals Bridgnorth on Saturday (3pm).
The side selected shows no fewer than six changes from the team hammered 65-0 at Lichfield last weekend with rare starts for Alex Taylor and Phil Andrews.
“Something had to change after last week and this is what the coaches have decided on,” said fly half Mattie Morris, one of the men to lose out.
By Stuart Dunn