Sickness bug fears for Newport
Newport are praying that a sickness bug does not rob them of five key players for tomorrow¹s crunch relegation clash at Kettering. Newport are praying that a sickness bug does not rob them of five key players for tomorrow's crunch relegation clash at Kettering. The Forton Road men could open up clear daylight to the bottom three in National League 3 Midlands if they can defeat their Northamptonshire hosts, who go into the game sitting second bottom. But their prospects could rest on the speed of recovery made by a handful of players that have been laid low by illness during the week.
The Forton Road men could open up clear daylight to the bottom three in National League 3 Midlands if they can defeat their Northamptonshire hosts, who go into the game sitting second bottom.
But their prospects could rest on the speed of recovery made by a handful of players that have been laid low by illness during the week.
Phil Kaleta, Morgan Sikanen, James Curgenven, Ben Warrilow and Jon Stiles have all been affected by the virus and none of the five were able to train on Tuesday evening.
"Fingers crossed they'll all be fit to play, but we've had to delay naming out selection," director of rugby Ray Price revealed.
"It's not good timing because this is a massive, crunch game for us.
"If we can pull it off and beat Kettering, then it would do us no harm whatsoever in getting out of the position we are currently in.
"It's a chance for us to open up the gap to the bottom three again."
Luctonians will face a difficult task when they take on Longton in their re-arranged fixture at Mortimer Park.
In-form Longton recorded their seventh straight win with a 32-8 victory over Bedford Athletic at the weekend and will be going for a double over the Luctonians.
"They beat us earlier in the season so we know we will have to be at our best to take revenge," said spokesman Robin East
"Longton also beat top of the table Ampthill the week before and have now moved up above us into fourth place in the division."
The Lucs will be without Cameron Hewitt, who has had to return to New Zealand for family reasons, but Dean Cheshire and Steve Jacques should be available for selection having had an extra week to recover from injury.
Hereford will be aiming to follow up their win over Kenilworth when they travel to Luton.
The Wyesiders pipped Luton 24-22 earlier in the season but the Bedfordshire club have been scoring freely and will be looking to take revenge on their own ground.
By CHRIS HUDSON
