Warriors out to bounce back

■By BEN JAYCOCK

PREVIEW…

Worcester Warriors v Ampthill

Today. Kick-off 4pm, Sixways Stadium

WORCESTER Warriors will be determined to bounce back from their first defeat of the season when they host eighth-placed Ampthill at Six-ways today.

Matt Everard’s side surrendered top spot to Ealing Trailfinders after their six-match winning streak was ended by a 36-27 defeat at Doncaster Knights last weekend.

Despite scoring five tries, Worcester were undone by four missed conversions from Will Reed, while Telusa Veainu’s late score sealed a memorable victory for Doncaster.

The reigning champions remain second in the standings and will be confident of returning to winning ways against opponents they defeated 41-14 in their last league meeting in January. Worcester also recorded a convincing 54-12 victory at Ampthill during pre-season, although Everard will be wary of a Bedfordshire outfit that has won four of its opening seven matches.

Ampthill have suffered consecutive defeats against Coventry and Ealing, the latter inflicting a 50-19 loss last weekend. Despite their mid-table position, Ampthill have scored 231 points, averaging 33 per match, although their defensive record remains a concern after conceding 278.

Flanker Ed Timpson leads their try-scoring charts with four, while full-back Elliott Gourlay and captain Efan Jones each have three.

Gourlay has impressed since arriving from Loughborough University, scoring twice against Nottingham before adding another in the high-scoring 59-45 victory over Caldy.

Worcester have made four changes to their starting XV, with Owain Evans returning in the second row alongside John Hawkins and James Cherry coming into the back row.

Lloyd Williams takes over at scrum-half, while former England international Billy Twelvetrees starts at fly-half.

Captain Matt Kvesic continues alongside Tim Anstee in the back row, with Will Biggs retained at hooker after scoring twice against Doncaster.

Archie Vanes is named among the replacements for his first appearance of the Championship campaign following injury.

Ampthill captain Efan Jones starts at scrum-half alongside Raff Weston, while Sam Hollingsworth and Toby Baker form the midfield partnership.

Timpson joins Ollie Mullarkey and Tino Mapapalangi in the back row, with Gourlay at fullback and Joe Browning and Joe Heslop on the wings.

For Worcester, victory would provide an immediate response to their Doncaster setback while Ampthill will hope to halt their losing run and demonstrate their ability to compete with the Championship’s leading contenders.