Ride the Heat Wave

Team News

With temperatures set to soar over the Bank Holiday weekend, Warriors will be looking to make waves themselves in their Elior Champ Rugby Play-off semi-final against Ealing Trailfinders.

Last weekend we saw an admirable display of determined defence early on which helped to negate Chinnor's pick and go tactics. In the last 20 minutes our aggressive tackling in the opposition's half forced several turnovers including enormous dominant hits by Thabo Ndimande and Siva Naulago. Matt Everard will have been delighted to see the boys step up from the embarassing capitulation against Coventry but we will need to reach a considerably higher level if we are to steal Ealing's unbeaten record at Vallis Way tomorrow. The coaches will also be hoping to see a game without the concession of an interception try. Despite benefitting from a few ourselves this season, we have been on the receiving end far too often. Alun Walker's deft intercept and kick ahead led to Chinnor's first try of the Quarter-final, although I understand that his blatant disregard of front-row union's rules may lead to his expulsion; what chance of seeing him in (or out of) the Number 10 jersey next season?

Tomorrow's match sees a Warriors squad with few changes from the previous week. The backline stays the same with Siva Naulago retaining the 13 jersey after his impressive brace of tries against Chinnor. In the back-row Pirates-bound Bokenham gets the start in place of an injured Matt Rogerson; squad-ever-present Thabo Ndimande is favoured for his impact off the bench. The only other change in the starting XV is the welcome return of Fraser Balmain at tight-head with Tim Hoyt remaining on the bench after his impressive display in the loose in the final quarter last time around. Finn Haynes (sponsored by WWST) will cover the hooker position.

Official news of Lloyd Williams' retirement also broke this week and what a fitting match to be playing in following this announcement. After a stellar career at Cardiff Rugby from 2013 to 2023, which saw him win 32 Wales caps and play for his home-club over 250 times, Lloyd had two seasons at Ealing before signing for Warriors' phoenix year. His experience and calm demeanour, to say nothing of his game control and undiminished acceleration has cemented him in the hearts of all Warriors' fans; we wish him every luck in his new career at the Thomas Carroll Group. Hopefully he won't miss those 5am starts, for the commute up to Sixways training, too much!

WWST Honorary Member

WWST has been indebted to sports photographer Nick Browning this season. Nick has covered almost all Warriors' fixtures at his own personal expense and has generously supplied many images for us to use in our Warriors Gallery. Consequently thousands of supporters have been able to enjoy high quality action shots which would otherwise be unavailable, thanks to the paucity of media coverage of our division.

As a small token of our thanks we have named him our third Honorary Life Member (following Beatrice Duckworth and our Honorary President, Dave Bradley). A few members of the trust board presented Nick with a cap and membership badge before the game last weekend. Thanks very much to Harry Monahan for capturing the moment!

See you all down in West London - let's enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!