Team news ahead of the Ebbw Vale game

Ross Beattie
By Duncan Wood
August 23 2002

All of the preseason training is done and dusted and the team now get to perform in front of their own supporters for the first time. Ebbw Vale provide the opposition and should give Bristol a good workout.

Bristol Shoguns line-up to face Ebbw Vale
Saturday 24 August, Memorial Stadium, kick off 3pm

Lee Best, Brendon Daniel, David Rees, Martin Shaw, Phil Christophers, Shane Drahm, Agustin Pichot, Ross Beattie (c), Craig Short, Ben Sturnham, Andrew Sheridan, Garath Archer, Emiliano Bergamaschi, Saul Nelson, Darren Crompton.

Replacements:

Jamie Williams, Duncan Hayward, Felipe Contepomi, Peter Richards, Matt Salter, Rhys Oakley, Chris Morgan, Alex Brown, Scott Morgan, Julian White, Chris Rowland, Paul Johnstone.

It'll probably been difficult to read too much into this game although I'm sure that everyone connected with the team will be wanting to put on a bit of a show for the supporters.

However, with the new season only a week away, there's always going to be the concern of picking up an injury at this late stage.

There will probably be plenty of substitutions especially in the second half. We may well see the likes of Julian White and Alex Brown get a brief run out after their respective ankle surgeries although their playing time probably won't be too extensive.

It will be the first opportunity for home supporters to see Martin Shaw starting a game on home soil and it will be a big day for Ross Beattie as he leads out the Bristol team for the first time at the Memorial Stadium.