Braves side to face Bath

By Mark Stevens
21/12/18

Exeter Braves run out for the second time this week looking to preserve their winning formula in this season's Premiership Rugby Shield.

Having seen off a strong Harlequins outfit 17-13 at The Stoop on Monday night, the Devonians are on the road again tomorrow when they make the trip to Bath (3:30pm kick-off).

So far this season the Braves have produced a perfect 'five from five' in the Shield - and they lead the Southern Conference by seven points from next-best Saracens and Harlequins, the latter of whom has played a game more.

It's been the perfect campaign so far for the Braves, but coach Haydn Thomas insists his side can ill afford to take their foot off the gas, despite their comfortable buffer at the top of the table.

"We've done well in the competition so far, but we've got to keep building" said Thomas. "We've got another tough test at the weekend against what will be a very strong Bath side. Monday night was a very good win for us and we did a lot of good things in that game, but now we have to follow that up with an equally good performance up at Bath."

Although a large nucleus of Monday's victorious side remain in situ for tomorrow's encounter, the Braves have been strengthened with the addition of some key personnel.  International props Moray Low and Greg Holmes both come into the front-row, Toby Salmon is back at lock after a spell out with injury, while in the back division there are starts for Academy duo Shea Cornish and Barry Karea.

"We've added one or two for Saturday's game, but by and large a lot of the side remains the same," added Thomas. "We saw some very good performances from a number of the guys up at Harlequins and now we've challenged them to go out and back that up again at the weekend."

BRAVES SIDE TO FACE BATH UNITED

15 Max Bodilly
14 James Short
13 Barry Karea
12 Tom Hendrickson
11 Shea Cornish
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Joe Snow
1 Moray Low
2 Max Norey
3 Greg Holmes
4 Josh Caulfield
5 Toby Salmon
6 Onehunga Kaufusi
7 James McRae (capt)
8 Rus Tuima

16 Ben Phillips
17 Billy Keast
18 Marcus Street
19 Richard Capstick
20 Flynn Elworthy
21 Pierce Thompson
22 Sam Morley
23 Luke Mehson