STOKE A.R. Richards Potters make the trip to the West Midlands to face Birmingham Brummies’ in the National Trophy at Perry Barr on Wednesday night, 7.30pm.
The Potters will use rider replacement for Rob Shuttleworth who misses the meeting with concussion after his fall on Saturday while former two times National League title winner with the Brummies’ Tom Perry steps in to replace Max Clegg who is on Premiership duty with Rye House.
The Brummies’ will also utilise the rider replacement rule due to former Potters number 1 and now Birmingham skipper Mitchell Davey being injured in a horrific crash at Perry Barr last Wednesday when he sustained a snapped shoulder blade, punctured lung, vertebrae and numerous broken ribs and he is still currently in hospital. Tom Bacons and Danyon Hume lead the charge for the Brummies’ and they will be back-up by Layne Cupitt and Callum Walker while Arran Butcher returns to their side after injury with teenager Leon Flint who has been scoring points for fun completes the West Midlands outfit team. The Perry Barr club have named Stephen Whitehouse as number 8. The Perry Barr based club are undefeated around their home circuit so far this season and beat the Potters 57-33 at Loomer Road last month.
Potters co-team manager Adam Isherwood said “First of all I along with all the Stoke management and supporters would like to wish Mitchell (Davey) all the best for a speedy recovery he was a favourite at Stoke and jointly the rider of the year and we’d like to send our best wishes to him. Losing Mitchell weakens Birmingham considerably while we have Tom Perry coming in for Max (Clegg), but we have suffered a blow with Rob (Shuttleworth) also missing the meeting and hopefully we are able to cover for his rides adequately throughout the meeting. It’s going to be an extremely tough meeting against Birmingham as they have Tom Bacon, Danyon Hume and young Leon Flint who seems to be scoring points for fun at reserve but we know what we have to do and we will be looking to get something out of the meeting.”
BIRMINGHAM: Tom Bacon, Layne Cupitt, Mitchell Davey R/R, Callum Walker, Danyon Hume, Arran Butcher, Leon Flint, Stephen Whitehouse (No.8). STOKE: Tom Perry, Paul Burnett, Tony Atkin, Adam Extance, Rob Shuttleworth R/R, Joe Alcock, William O’Keefe.
