Match Preview

The young Colts side returns to action on Friday night under the lights at the Stute versus Dronfield.

The players and coaches are highly determined to put right one or two issues that were evident in the recent defeat to Derby. A lot of work has gone into tightening up the defence, as well as using the developing attacking shape to create and exploit space on attack.

The game sees a few changes with new signing Bayleigh Steemson Weir slotting straight in at number eight, and a positional switch in the backline with exciting prospect Harry Blount wearing the ten jersey and NLD representative Liam Gavin moving to inside centre.

Head coach Paul Shoebridge: 'it's never nice to be on the wrong side of sixty points but I've really tried to stress to the guys that improvement is rarely linear and there will inevitably be bumps in the road. This is the without a doubt the most well prepared and connected Colts group I have worked with at Ilkeston and the players should take a lot of confidence from that. We have put in some seriously hard work in training, and with Bayleigh on board and our dual playmaker axis at 10-12, we are incredibly excited about the opportunity tomorrow night's game affords us to put on a real show under the lights.'

Friday night's game kicks off at 7:30pm and provides the perfect prelude to a big weekend of rugby at the Stute with several RWC games, three age grade teams playing fixtures on Sunday morning, and England v Tonga rounding it off at 11:15am.