Raaymakers To Line Out For Ulster Ravens
The Ulster Ravens have named their team to play Rotherham Titans in pool 2 of the British & Irish Cup at Clifton Lane on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).
The fixture will see Ronald Raaymakers make his first Ulster appearance since arriving in the province last month from Counties Manukau in New Zealand. He will start in the second row alongside experienced captain Neil McComb.
Contracted players Ricky Lutton and Bronson Ross will pack down either side of former Ireland Under-20 hooker John Andrew. Conor Joyce and Mike McComish join Charlie Butterworth in a nicely balanced back row that faced off against the same opposition in the last round.
Hughes Insurance Academy scrum half Connor Young is partnered at half back by Ritchie McMaster, who has made a big impression playing with Ballymena in Ulster Bank League Division 1B this season.
Sam Arnold and Jacob Stockdale – Interprovincial title winners with the Ulster Under-20s back in September – are paired together in midfield. Ross Adair, Jack Owens and Ricky Andrew form an exciting back-three combination.
The bench will see Paul Jackson, Dave Ryan, John Donnan and Frankie Taggart provide cover for the forwards, with Josh Fullerton and Malone duo Josh Bingham and Adam Liddell also named among the replacements.
Having lost their opening three pool games by less than a score, Ravens head coach Kieran Campbell knows that his side are not far away from claiming their first win.
ULSTER RAVENS (v Rotherham Titans): Ricky Andrew; Jack Owens, Jacob Stockdale, Sam Arnold, Ross Adair; Ritchie McMaster, Connor Young; Ricky Lutton, John Andrew, Bronson Ross, Ronald Raaymakers, Neil McComb (capt), Conor Joyce, Mike McComish, Charlie Butterworth.
Replacements: Paul Jackson, Dave Ryan, John Donnan, Frank Taggart, Josh Fullerton, Josh Bingham, Adam Liddell.