Braves side to face Gloucester
By Mark Stevens
18/12/17
Exeter Braves coach Ricky Pellow has challenged his side to finish 2017 on a high by claiming victory in tonight's Aviva A League clash against Gloucester United (7:30pm).
Top of the pile in the Southern Group after five rounds, the Braves will be looking to wrap up the final part of qualification for the latter stages with another powerful performance at Royal Wootton Bassett's Malmesbury Road ground.
Fresh from their 41-23 victory over Saracens Storm last time out, it's another decent mix of youth and experience that the Braves will send into battle against the Cherry & Whites.
England international Jack Maunder skippers a side that includes the likes of Moray Low, Ollie Atkins, James Freeman and Julian Salvi up front, while behind the scrum-half forms a decent half-back pairing alongside Joe Simmonds. Outside of them, Tom Hendrickson will be hoping to impress in the centre with University of Exeter duo Sal M'Boge and Sam Morley forming two thirds of the back three.
Pellow said: "It's been a real pleasing campaign for us so far, but we know playing Gloucester at any level is always a big test for us as a club. We're top of the league at the moment and we want to finish the year in the same vein.
"Again, we've been able to pick a strong squad and I know there are a lot of the boys who will want to be pressing their claims for what is a big Premiership block coming up soon. At the same time, it's good for some of our young academy players like Danny Southworth and James Kenny to be involved in the squad and hopefully get some experience from playing at this level."
BRAVES TEAM TO FACE GLOUCESTER UNITED
15 Sam Morley
14 Sal M’Boge
13 Harry Strong
12 Tom Hendrickson
11 Harrison Cully
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Jack Maunder
1 Moray Low
2 Shaun Malton
3 Marcus Street
4 Toby Salmon
5 Ollie Atkins
6 James Freeman
7 Julian Salvi
8 James McRae
16 Elvis Taione
17 James Kenny
18 Danny Southworth
19 Ed Holmes
20 Sean Lonsdale
21 Stu Townsend
22 AJ Cant
23 Sam Laity