Match Preview

LIGERS travel to Sonning to take on Woodley Saints Panthers in the last 16 of the EBFA Trophy this weekend. Ligers, who are flying high in Div E, will be hoping for a repeat of the opening day victory against Panthers. It got Ligers off to a great start, trouncing their guests 9-1 at Twickenham Academy. However, it will be recalled that Panthers played the whole game with just nine players, including missing their first choice keeper, Harry Angell. Ligers, on the other hand, rotated 15 players and Frazer and George L both scored hat-tricks.

Panthers have proved to be anything but whipping boys and girls since then, losing only one game at home and sitting mid-table on 11 points. On their way to the last 16 they have beaten our own Cheetahs 6-5 and Whitegrove Tigers 7-1.

Ligers are without leading scorer George Lee who is playing rugby, Hayden Pillay who is heading off to South Africa for some training in the sun, and Tommy Fondie who has still to recover from illness. Ligers will be conscious that the 9 Panthers caused them a torrid 35 minutes last time with their long-ball game and the pace of their forwards but it is hoped that the Ligers defence has matured somewhat over the last 12 weeks. The return of Frazer Pickrell and Gabriel Sinclair to the line-up should also add some steel after last week's upset against local rivals Teddington Athletic Wolves.

Hopefully the rain will abate and the Berkshire County Sports grounds will be playable. Pitch inspection at 8am