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TODAY’S OPPONENTS<br />
HEMEL STAGS<br />
WRITTEN BY JACK CONLON<br />
12<br />
FORM<br />
After a horrendous start to the season, <strong>Hemel</strong><br />
have upped their game significantly as they<br />
look to avoid the wooden spoon in <strong>2017</strong>. They<br />
currently sit in 7th, just one point above lastplaced<br />
South Wales thanks to superb wins<br />
over Oxford and the Ironmen. Despite their<br />
resurgence, the <strong>Stags</strong> are without a win in<br />
their last three, most recently going down<br />
60-16 to League 1 Shield finalists Hunslet.<br />
Just like us, however, Troy Perkins’ side will be<br />
looking to end the season on a high and so<br />
will undoubtedly come to the Prince of Wales<br />
in a determined mood.<br />
BACKS<br />
A big positive for <strong>Hemel</strong> is that their squad<br />
has developed massively from the one that<br />
we faced back in February. They’ve retained<br />
a few players, but have seen a huge reshuffle<br />
over the course of <strong>2017</strong>, particularly in the<br />
backs. Former <strong>All</strong> Gold Mark Barlow is one<br />
that has seen the whole season through, but<br />
now has competition from Lewis Fairhurst,<br />
who came in from Dewsbury, and Hull<br />
youngster Jack Wray. Likewise, fullback<br />
Mitch Vincent will compete with former<br />
Doncaster threequarter Matty Welham for<br />
the no.1 berth.<br />
The <strong>Stags</strong> have been bolstered outwide by<br />
Keighley loan duo Josh Casey and Danny<br />
Lawton, with the latter bringing in a wealth<br />
of experience having played over 100 games<br />
for his parent club. That experience will be<br />
valuable for the likes of Connor Bower, also<br />
on loan from Hull, and Alex Williams, who is<br />
in his forst season as a professional player.<br />
The <strong>Stags</strong>’ backline is completed by winger<br />
Darren Forde and former Leeds and Hunslet<br />
utility Marcus Elliott.<br />
www.allgoldsrugby.com<br />
FORWARDS<br />
There aren’t as many big names in the<br />
<strong>Stags</strong>’ forward pack, but that doesn’t<br />
mean they aren’t just as formidable.<br />
Former Keighley prop Dan Hawksworth<br />
has led from the front all year, with Wayne<br />
Jowett, Danny Samuels and Jamaica<br />
international Reece Williams backing him<br />
up. Former <strong>All</strong> <strong>Golds</strong> Corey Hanson came<br />
in mid-season and has been a revelation,<br />
adding further strength and experience.<br />
<strong>Hemel</strong>’s second row is youthful, but full<br />
of flare. Bradford Bulls academy graduate<br />
James Thornton has impressed all year<br />
and has now been joined by Manashe<br />
Fumandha, who is a real handful with ball<br />
in-hand. Also keep an eye out for Italian<br />
international and former Sheffield Eagle<br />
Santino Decaro, who will come off the<br />
bench. Hooker Jono Burns has a great<br />
running game out of dummy half and<br />
rotates well with Scott Lee.<br />
Harley Axe<br />
Mark Barlow<br />
Connor Bower<br />
Jono Burns<br />
Josh Casey<br />
Sam Crowther<br />
Santino Decaro<br />
Marcus Elliott<br />
Lewis Fairhurst<br />
Darren Forde<br />
Liam Frenneaux<br />
Manashe Fumandha<br />
Corey Hanson<br />
Dan Hawksworth<br />
SQUAD<br />
Aaron James<br />
Wayne Jowett<br />
Danny Lawton<br />
Scott Lee<br />
Ryan Matthews<br />
Jack O’Brien<br />
Danny Samuels<br />
James Thornton<br />
Declan Tomlinson<br />
Mitch Vincent<br />
Matty Welham<br />
Alex Williams<br />
Reece Williams<br />
Jack Wray<br />
@<strong>All</strong><strong>Golds</strong> facebook.com/<strong>All</strong><strong>Golds</strong>Rugby
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