Match Preview

This week Aireborough Crusaders finally return to Nunroyd Park for a home fixture, with their last run out at home coming all the way back in November last year by this writer's reckoning. The match this weekend is another tough one, in a run of difficult fixtures, as they face North Ribblesdale 2nd XV in the rearranged Merit Table game from December.

Despite several notable absences, Aire still manage to name a strong initial squad with Pack Leader Jonny Hanson captaining again this week, and club legend Tony Exley assuming the role of Player-Manager in the absence of "Ideas Man" Ian 'Clogger' Claughton. This squad may further increase in strength with the possible late additions of some of the young men from the 17s stepping in to get their first taste of senior rugby.

14:15 Kick Off, 13:00 meet at the Club.

Provisional squad is shown below- lineup to be set based on injuries and arrival times

1 Tim Baxter (sponsored by Lisa Bourne Naming Ceremonies https://humanist.org.uk/lisabourne/namings/)
2 Jony Hunter
3 Eddie Brewer
4 Phil Shields
5 Jason Clay
6 Richard Coulson
7 Will Warrington
8 Jonny Hanson ( C )

9 Tom Holdsworth
10 David Krushell sponsored by independent financial advisers Aire Valley IFA, http://airevalley.ifa-web.co.uk/
11 Tom Murgatroyd
12 Gareth Poole
13 James "Schming" Kinghorn
14 Jamie Sykes
15 Matty Jones

16 Tony Exley (Player-Manager)
17 Tom Helliwell
18 Rob Anslow
19 Luke Buchan
20 Tony Clitheroe (following late fitness test).
21 Ben Middleton
22 Tom Styles
23 Kamran Aslam