With Rachel Malcolm, Helen Nelson, Rhona Lloyd and Leah Bartlett on international duty Scotland camp this weekend, Lightning will make five changes to their starting line up that beat Sale Sharks in the season opener last week, 29-7.
Making their season debut for the side, Daleaka Menin will start at Prop and Georgia Bradley will take the starting shirt at 6. After a solid performance off the bench last week Isla Alejandro moves to wing and Ellen Ramsbottom transfers across into the 13 position.
The two sides have not met at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ since 2018 as last season the home leg of this fixture was cancelled.
The game, which will see Lightning host for the first time this season, will kick off at 2pm on the 1st XV pitch on Epinal Way.
Of the game this week, Head Coach Rhys Edwards commented;
“Saturday is the second game of the Premier 15s and our first home game, which gives us a quick turn around and allows us to continue our progress from last week.
“We started pretty slowly against Sale Sharks, but by the end of the game we managed to get into our groove and finishing the game with a bonus point really highlighted how the girls problem solved on pitch.
“I am really keen that we start well this week as Gloucester-Hartpury pose a very different challenge to last week. As we know from previous seasons, they are a team that wants to play a positive high tempo brand of rugby and will challenge the way we play aswell. I think it will be an exciting, fast flowing affair from the start.”
Rhys added;
“With certain international players away at camp we have made a couple of changes this week to the squad. The depth and competition in the squad is something we are really happy with and we see it as a great opportunity to get players game time early on in the season. “
Lightning’s kick-off is at 2pm, make sure you tune into our social media channels to keep up with all the action.
Lightning line-up
- Detysha Harper
- Lark Davies
- Daleaka Menin
- Kat Hobson
- Anya richmond
- Georgia Bradley
- Becky Noon
- Morwenna Talling
- Ella Wrywas
- Helena Rowland
- Olivia Jones
- Emma Hardy
- Ellen Ramsbottom
- Isla Alejandro
- Abbie Brown
- Phoebe Andrews
- Katie Trevarthen
- Beyonce Fowler
- Rachael Woosey
- Amy Relf
- Jess Weaver
- Grace White
- Aine Staunton