Bournemouth Director Of Rugby Will Croker is hoping lightening does not strike twice when his side travel to Ivybridge.
The South West Premier table toppers have only tasted defeat once this term, which was at 2003 World Cup winner Will Greenwood’s fourth placed Maidenhead.
Many pointed to the unfamiliar and rare 4G surface with which the Berkshire side play on as the reason behind the defeat.
With Ivybridge playing on the same sort of pitch, Croker says it brings its own sort of challenges.
He said: “Ivybridge are playing on a new 4G pitch and the only game we have lost this season was at Maidenhead, who also play on a 4G pitch, so that in itself brings its own sort of issues.
“The team itself is very committed to making sure that we go out there and do ourselves justice.
“With that in mind, we have picked a mobile pack and brought Joe Spiller onto the bench just to give us that little bit more mobility and we are really looking forward to the challenge which is to come.”
When the two sides first met at Chapel Gate at the end of November, Croker’s side enjoyed a 20-10 home success.
Despite only scoring ten points that day, Croker is well aware of the attacking threat their opponents possess - which has yielded just one less four-try scoring bonus point then pacesetters Bournemouth.
The Devon side have lost just twice at home this season against the free-running students of Exeter University and second placed Barnstaple, and Croker said they posses many threats.
He added: “Ivybridge away is a really difficult game - they love to attack and have a wonderful set of backs.
“As I mentioned in my programme notes when we played them at home back in November, in Billy Pinkus I believe they have got one of the league’s leading wingers.
“Their scrum-half is a fantastic player and their captain, who plays outside centre or full-back, is a wonderful attacker.”
BOURNEMOUTH: Karim Lynch; Grant Hancox (captain), Danny Kirkpatrick, Scott Chislett, Adam Higgins; Mike Pope, Sam Hardcastle; Joe Tarrant, Ben Allman, Gianluca Firetto; Ben Roberts, Harry Leadbeater; Ali Bennett, Ben Russell, Alan Manning. Replacements: Joe Spiller, Mikael Treloar, Sammy Veneroso.
Bournemouth Lions will not be the only team taking to the pitch this weekend. Saturday also see's our table topping seconds playing in the Zoo League Division 2 against Worthing Raiders at home kick off 3pm. Our thirds make it a double header at home this week as they face Salisbury kick off also at 3pm. Lastly but not least our fourths who take on New Milton away.
