Locksheath Pumas aiming to take ‘full control’ of Hampshire One

Pumas will travel with confidence defending a 12-game unbeaten record.

The international weekend has seen a few enforced changes but the squad is full of familiar faces.

Rob Hylands returns at prop with Joe Bennetts moving across to hooker, while Sam Floyd moves back to openside flanker.

The return of Dan Croft at centre and Stuart Miller at full back strengthen the back line.

Iain Fraser returns but can only make the bench along with Tom O’Grady and Tom Crowther.

Head coach Liam Moggeridge said: ‘We are under no illusion that this will be a tough match.

'If we can put in a strong performance it will enable us to take full control of the league.

'That will mean the remaining few games will be in our hands.

'We have selected another strong side and hope we can use the backline to good effect.'

It promises to be a titanic struggle between the top two sides with Pumas holding a one-point lead over their hosts.

Pumas will be hoping to complete the double, having beaten Overton 34-17 earlier in the season.

They will also take confidence from their 10-5 win against other title challengers Chichester II.

In the Hampshire Premier, third-placed Havant II can do Petersfield a big favour by winning at Alton.

With four games remaining, Petersfield hold a nine-point lead over Alton.

At the bottom Fareham Heathens remain in deep relegation trouble as they head into a three-week break.

Heathens are a point behind third-from-bottom Eastleigh II.

In London Three South West, Gosport & Fareham gave themselves a lifeline with their 19-15 win at Basingstoke.

The Blue and Golds remain six points adrift of third-from-bottom Trojans.

The Eastleigh-based club, however, do have two games in hand.

When the two sides meet at Gosport Park at the start of next month, it is likely to be a winner takes all contest.