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Scots ring the changes ahead of Yorkshire Carnegie clash

17th April 2015
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Recent absentees PJ Gidlow, Chevvy Pennycook and Dan Newton make a welcome return to action this weekend when the Scots travel to Yorkshire Carnegie in the penultimate round of Championship matches before the play-offs begin in earnest next month.

In one of 11 changes from the side which defeated Nottingham Rugby last week, which sealed third place for the Scots, centre Gidlow makes his first appearance since mid-December following injury, with back-row forward Pennycook also returning from an injury which has ruled him out since early February.

Stand-off Newton, now free from a suspension picked up against Plymouth Albion in February, earns a start in place of Peter Lydon with Matt Heeks coming in for Jamie Stevenson at nine.

USA Eagle Tai Tuisamoa forms a new second-row partnership alongside Adam Preocanin with Gregor Gillanders and Lewis Ludlow joining Pennycook in the back-row.

D’arcy Rae, on loan from Glasgow Warriors, makes his first competitive start for the Scots packing down with fellow prop Mark Lilley and hooker Adam Kwasnicki, who captains the side.

Mike Doneghan replaces Matt Williams on the right wing.

Coach Peter Richards said: “These players have put in a lot of hard work over a number of months and it was only right to give them the opportunity to put their hands up ahead of next month’s play-offs.

“We have some quality guys coming in and I’m excited to see how they go.

“There’s motivation across the board and this side is fresh and full of enthusiasm.

“The feeling in the squad is very positive after last weekend and I’m confident we can put in a big performance against Yorkshire.”

Boosted last month by the arrival of former Scotland scrum-half Bryan Redpath as head coach, Yorkshire have enjoyed an upturn in fortunes of late, something Richards is unsurprised with.

He added: “Carnegie have a talented squad and they have brought in a quality coach in Bryan Redpath, my old coach from Gloucester, which shows their ambition moving forward.

“They pushed Worcester very close last weekend, scoring some great tries and it’s going to be a stern challenge going up to Yorkshire on Sunday.”

London Scottish squad to play Yorkshire Carnegie at Headingley Carnegie on Sunday, April 19, 3pm kick-off.

15, Lee Millar, 14, Mike Doneghan, 13, Kieran Moffat, 12, PJ Gidlow, 11, Miles Mantella, 10, Dan Newton, 9, Matt Heeks, 1, Mark Lilley, 2, Adam Kwasnicki (c), 3, D’arcy Rae, 4, Tai Tuisamoa, 5, Adam Preocanin, 6, Gregor Gillanders, 7, Chevvy Pennycook, 8, Lewis Ludlow.

Replacements: 16, James Hallam, 17, Lovejoy Chawatama, 18, Alex Brown, 19, Mark Bright, 20, James Chisholm, 21, Ben Calder, 22, Peter Lydon.

Unavailable due to injury: Todd Gleave, Max Maidment, David Cherry and Stewart Maguire.

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