Bournemouth host Petersfield aiming to extend winning run
BOURNEMOUTH host Petersfield as they once again aim to extend their winning run in Regional Two South Central.
The Lions' current run stretches to 14 games, after they beat North Dorset at the start of February.
They beat Petersfield 46-33 back in November away from home, but director of rugby Will Croker said he views Saturday's visitors as one of the best teams in the league.
'I think that they've lost a few games or they've missed out on some results that would have seen them far higher up the table,' Croker said.
'They've got a very experienced squad, Dan Sargent and Liam Perkins and Matt McLean, all very experienced National League rugby players.
'They've got a good crop of youngsters that come in and bolster them.
'We played very well at their place.
'We never really let them into the game and we tried to suffocate their attacking intent and we've got to do something very similar this time.
'That said, we're really confident at home. We're undefeated so far this season at home and we're on a good winning run and there's real confidence amongst the boys.'
The game comes after a fallow week, which Croker said was difficult to get a flow going at this time of year, with another coming the week after the Petersfield match – although that has allowed them to focus on it as almost a one-off game.
But he said he understands the purpose of the gap weekends and said they had used the time well to rest some players and restore them to fitness.
Ben Meaden returns to the Bournemouth side at fly half, replacing Louis Ellis, as they aim to give him some game time in the first team before the run in.
Croker also said Meaden helped to run the game against Petersfield earlier this season and got the Lions attack ticking.
Matt Horne returns at number eight, Joe Rees at open-side flanker and Conrad Carkeet at hooker in the pack, while Jordie Wayman comes into the centres.
'We're feeling pretty confident that we've got a strong side out,' Croker said.
'We've now just got to almost move into cup final mode and we've put ourselves in with a shout now and we've just got to keep doing what we can do.
'Each week we've got to try our hardest to pick up a win and if we can, the bonus point and then we'll have to wait and see what happens to the other results around us. But we feel like we're in a good place.'
Bournemouth's second team face Ellingham and Ringwood as they look to force their way into the top half of the table, with Ellis dropping into that team alongside Carlos Snell and the returning Callum McKenzie.
'We're really looking to try to put together a performance there that can galvanise the side for the rest of the season,' Croker said.
The third team travel to Poole with a strong side, including former first team captain Dan Cawley who returns from a spell out.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kepa Arrizabalaga: Chelsea goalkeeper set for £5m Arsenal switch as Gunners land 'priority' target
Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea. The Gunners made goalkeeper a priority position to strengthen this summer and have been actively considering options for a new understudy to No1 David Raya for a number of months. Advertisement Standard Sport now understands they have moved swiftly to approach agreements with both Kepa and Chelsea to sign the Spaniard, who has a £5million release clause inserted into his current Chelsea contract. All parties are now expected to finalise his signing. Arsenal had held interest in the Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, but the 24-year-old now seems likeliest to end up at Barcelona. That prompted the Gunners to consider other options before settling on Kepa. Kepa spent last season on loan from Chelsea at Bournemouth, where he was the club's first-choice goalkeeper. Prior to that, he spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Real Madrid once it became clear he did not have a future at Chelsea. Advertisement The goalkeeper position is up in the air this summer at Chelsea but it is understood that Kepa, formerly the club's first-choice keeper, was never a viable option to reclaim that role. Signed by Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao for a £72m fee in 2017, Kepa has represented Spain on 13 occasions at senior level.


Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Real Madrid Will Present A New Signing To Fans
Real Madrid will present a new player to the club and its fans early on Tuesday afternoon in Spain, as the 15-time Champions League winner confirmed through an official statement. 'Real Madrid C. F. announces that today, at 12:30 p.m., the presentation of our player Dean Huijsen will take place at Real Madrid City,' the correspondence began. 'The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, will receive Huijsen for the signing ceremony that links our new player with the club for the next five seasons. After the presentation, Huijsen will speak to the media in the press room at Real Madrid City,' it added. Huijsen became Madrid's first signing of the summer transfer window after Madrid triggered his £50 million release clause at Bournemouth on the weekend that a trophyless 2024/2025 campaign in terms of major silverware drew to a close. Rejected by Juventus, which allowed him to make just one senior appearance in Italy, he found his feet in England and attracted a number of top European clubs with his performances in a sole Premier League season. Madrid saw enough to pay big money for the 20-year-old, who was born in the Netherlands but moved to Spain as a youngster which has allowed him to become a regular in La Roja's national team currently keeping FC Barcelona Pau Cubarsi out of Luis de la Fuente's first XI. As of yet, there's still no word on when Trent Alexander-Arnold will be presented amid completing what was a free transfer in theory from Liverpool. The right back's contract at Anfield was expected to expire on June 30, but Perez paid a reported €10 million for the right back to switch allegiances earlier than planned and take part in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup which kicks off in a few days. Because of this, 'TAA' might be unveiled following the US-held tournament and could be joined by Franco Mastantuono. As reported by various outlets, Real Madrid is closing in on Mastantuono after sending a delegation to Buenos Aires last week. In the Argentine capital, Madrid struck an agreement with the teenage prodigy and his current employers River Plate, but he's not expected to complete a transfer made possible by meeting his €45 million release clause until the Club World Cup has wrapped up.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Phillies to Activate Zack Wheeler Off Paternity List to Start Monday Against Cubs
Phillies to Activate Zack Wheeler Off Paternity List to Start Monday Against Cubs originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies, in the middle of losing eight of their last nine games, got a bit of good news Sunday morning. With Zack Wheeler missing his previous start due to the birth of his child, his next start was also in question. But after a new report, the Phillies ace is expected to be back on the mound soon. Advertisement According to Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia on Twitter/X, the Phillies plan to activate Wheeler off the paternity list and have him start on Monday, June 9th, against the Chicago Cubs. Wheeler rejoins the Phillies rotation which has gone through it's fair share of struggles lately. Across Jesus Luzardo's last two starts, he's allowed 20 earned runs. Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez have been solid, but neither has been dominant. Meanwhile, Wheeler's absence led the Phillies to trot out a bullpen game, which culminated in a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies have sorely needed Wheeler's presence in the rotation, and he's expected back for the series-opener against the first-place Cubs. Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Ross-Imagn Images In 2025, Wheeler has been his dominant self once again. He has a 2.96 ERA with 6 wins and 2 losses, both coming against the Atlanta Braves. In his 12 starts, Wheeler's gone 76 innings, and struck out 94 while walking just 18. Advertisement He is once again a Cy Young candidate, and if it weren't for two bad starts against the Braves, he'd be the leading candidate for the National League Cy Young. Wheeler's return in the middle of a losing streak is a welcome sign. With Bryce Harper on the 10-day injured list, and Aaron Nola still out with a foot injury, the Phillies need a spark. Wheeler, the Phillies best pitcher, is a major boost to the team once he's back on the mound. Related: Phillies Expected to be Aggressive at MLB Trade Deadline Related: Phillies Bullpen Sends Strong Message to Orion Kerkering Amid Early Struggles This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.