a new team, a new league will it be winning start?

number 8
By David Hibell
September 5 2003

The Shoguns will look to start the new season shipshape and in Bristol fashion but The Pirates have some experienced hands and will be looking to scupper those plans. It should be a game to treasure.

Their preseason has been a mixed bag with a loss at home to Gwent Dragons who proved too strong after a number of substitutions at half time proved decisive, and a win also at home to Bracknell where their powerful winger Lakalaka Waqanivere bagged a hat trick.

This is their first taste of National league one rugby.

The Bristol Shoguns team, rumoured to be wearing the new kit, (hopefully not one styled after the new England and France ones!) have a mixture of youth and experience with plenty of pace.

The full team is:
Sean Marsden
Mike Griffiths
Sam Cox
Jonathan Hawker
James Bailey
Chris Malone
Paul Hodgson
Dave Hilton (c)
Saul Nelson
James Hobson
Richard Hunt
Ollie Hodge
Chris Morgan
Joe El Abd
Richard Martin-Redman

Both teams feature players with Premiership experience and there are a number of ex team mates lining up in opposition for the first time.

In the warm up matches so far Bristol have played an attacking game but the second half at Newport aside have not really had to do much defending. Penzance will be looking to get off to a good start. Of special interest to them is the appearance on the bench of a certain Mr Haag, their former coach.

The Shoguns will want to maintain a proud record at home and nothing less than a win will do.