Heaven and Wight to pay respects to late Mike Blow

FAREHAM HEATHENS welcome Isle of Wight RFC to Cams Alders tomorrow in Hampshire One (3pm).
Seb Chambersreturns for Locks Heath Pumas. Pictures: Ian HargreavesSeb Chambersreturns for Locks Heath Pumas. Pictures: Ian Hargreaves
Seb Chambersreturns for Locks Heath Pumas. Pictures: Ian Hargreaves

Both clubs will use the occasion to remember a stalwart of the two teams, and a true rugby man in Mike Blow, who sadly passed away last year.

This year’s game is the first instalment of the ‘Mike Blow Memorial Match’.

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Rob Impey reprises his former role at fly-half for Heathen, with Tom Baxter and Anthony Burr outside him.

In the pack, meanwhile, stability blends with rotation as Louis Cadden starts in place of Josh Gander at prop, while Andy Burns, Rich Green, Dave Wheaton and Jim Gardner make up the rest of the tight five.

With Harry King and Jonny Stoppard in the back row, Heathens are expecting to compete strongly at the breakdown and give their ball players a good attacking platform.

Heathens are looking to build on recent strong team performances.

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Senior coach Tom Hoey said: ‘We are making great opportunities and often creating more scoring chances than the opposition over the course of 80 minutes.

‘All we need is confidence in ourselves to make the right decision and then back that decision once made.

‘We’re a good enough side with loads of talent and, while our play reflects that at times, the scoreline often doesn’t.’

Locksheath Pumas are expecting a hostile encounter against a Southsea Nomads side looking to end their Hampshire Two season with a win at Furze Lane.

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The visitors have the luxury of picking from a full strength squad.

Fijian favourite Paul Tawaketini returns and former Nomad, Seb Chambers, has rejoined the Pumas following deployments with the Royal Navy.

‘We go there expecting nothing less than a fiery reception, but are ready for that,’ said Pumas coach Rich Rigby.

‘They will want a forward battle, then release the talent they have. Its going to be a fascinating game.’