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With a spot in the 2016/17 Aviva Premiership season on the line, Doncaster and Bristol will go head-to-head on Wednesday in the first of a two-leg battle for the Greene King IPA Championship title. The Americas will have a special interest in the match as Canadian lock Jon Phelan starts for Doncaster while Argentina’s Gastón Cortes is named as a reserve for Bristol.
Bristol has opted to play the second leg at home, giving the Knights home field advantage at Castle Park in round one. Clive Griffiths has kept the faith with the side that has by-and-large been together all season. Former England u21 and Sale Sharks flanker Michael Hills captains, with Tongan powerhouse Latu Maka’afi a key figure as a destructive tackler and carrier. Fijian World Cup hooker Vili Veikoso will be an impact sub from the bench, where Scotland u20 forward Glen Young again gets the nod ahead of Canadian international Tyler Hotson.
Andy Robinson has meanwhile named a formidable lineup for the visitors. Even absent injured Gavin Henson the side contains five full internationals, with four more on the bench. Manu Samoa trio Anthony Perenise, Jack Lam, and skipper David Lemi are certain to make a big impression while British & Irish Lions tourist Ian Evans is a dominant figure in the lineout. Former England winger Tom Varndell still has pace to burn, and 20-year-old Callum Sheedy runs out at flyhalf leaving current Wales squad member Matthew Morgan on the bench.
The match kicks off at 7:45pm local time (2:45pm ET) and will be broadcast on Sky Sports 2.
DONCASTER KNIGHTS
1 Richard List 2 Ben Hunter 3 Colin Quigley 4 Matt Challinor 5 Jon Phelan 6 Latu Maka’afi 7 Michael Hills (capt.) 8 Alex Shaw 9 Michael Heaney 10 Declan Cusack 11 Tyson Lewis 12 Will Hurrell 13 Mat Clark 14 Andrew Bulumakau 15 Paul Jarvis
16 Vili Veikoso 17 Riccardo Brugnara 18 WillGriff John 19 Ollie Stedman 20 Glen Young 21 Dougie Flockhart 22 Brad Field
BRISTOL
1 Jack O’Donnell 2 Ross McMillan 3 Anthony Perenise 4 Ian Evans 5 Ben Glynn 6 Marco Mama 7 Jack Lam 8 James Phillips 9 Will Cliff 10 Callum Sheedy 11 David Lemi (capt.) 12 Ben Mosses 13 Jack Tovey 14 Tom Varndell 15 Luke Arscott
16 Chris Brooker 17 Kyle Traynor 18 Gastón Cortes 19 Mark Sorenson 20 Olly Robinson 21 Martin Roberts 22 Matthew Morgan
