MATT Williams is backing Chris Elder to make a big impression at Chinnor after signing the former London Welsh man for next season.

The 26-year-old back will join the Thame-based side from Greene King IPA Championship outfit Yorkshire Carnegie.

Elder, who featured for Chinnor’s first team at the age of 17 while with the Wasps Academy, played for Welsh in the Aviva Premiership and has made more than 100 appearances in the second tier.

Director of rugby Williams believes his new signing will be a big asset in National League 1.

He said: “I’m a huge fan of Chris and am more than excited he is joining Chinnor.

“Without doubt he is one of the best attackers in the Championship and has consistently been causing defences a nightmare for several seasons.

“There is more time and space in National 1, so I’m expecting Chris to have a lot of fun.”

READ AGAIN: Elder signs for Chinnor

Sixth-placed Chinnor head to Rosslyn Park tomorrow, bidding to build on their first win in five games.

They make six changes, one positional, with Ricky Cano, Joe Dancer, Latu Makaafi, George Grose and Caolan Ryan starting, while Kieran Goss switches to the wing.

Josh Hodson, Greg King (both hamstring) and captain Danny Barnes (elbow) are injured, while Alex Dancer is still sidelined with concussion.

Centre Grose helped Chinnor’s second team – the Falcons – reach the Oxfordshire Cup final last week and has been rewarded for some impressive performances.

Williams said: “He is a kid who has come through the minis and juniors and has been in the second team since the day he left the colts.

“He made his first team debut for me three years ago and then he had a very serious back injury where he had some work done on his vertebrae.

“George has come back fighting, he’s got stronger, quicker and through his performances for the Falcons, and the fact we have injured centres, he has fought his way in to deserve his start this week.”

Back-row forward Ben Manning drops to the bench, but casualties elsewhere on the field have forced the decision.

Williams added: “He’s been playing brilliantly for us and the harshest decision this week was putting him on the bench as he doesn’t deserve to be there.

“But he’s there because he’s actually covering the backs.

“It was also great to see Willie Ryan back in a Chinnor shirt last week.

“His work rate and endeavour was brilliant and to have him for the next 18 months is exciting.”

Rosslyn Park are third in the table and Williams is backing his side to cause problems in London.

He said: “We’re out of the title race and they’re very much still in it.

“We like being underdogs.

“We shall go and have fun and not worry about the result.”

Promotion-chasing Henley Hawks are eyeing a sixth successive win when they make the trip to Clifton in National League 2 South.

Luke Allen’s side are four points behind second-placed Canterbury, who occupy the only play-off spot, with seven games to go.

Henley make one change, with hooker Tom Emery returning.

READ AGAIN: Wheatley and Gosford to field three teams

Banbury are targeting a third bonus-point win in a row when they travel to Salisbury.

Bulls can ill-afford to slip up if they are to close a six-point gap to the top two and remain in the South West 1 East promotion chase.

And with second-placed Old Centralians, who occupy the sole play-off spot, hosting Marlborough, who are fourth, they could have an opportunity to close in on their rivals.

Struggling Witney are boosted by the return of captain Matt Clarke from suspension for their tough

trip to runaway leaders Newbury Blues.

Deg Bayliss and George Lewis are also handed starts.

Witney are 11 points adrift of safety with six games to go and will be eager to learn the outcome of Oxford Harlequins’ match at home to Chippenham.

They will be hoping for a favour from their Oxfordshire counterparts with the Wiltshire side occupying the spot above the relegation zone.

Ramez Farahani, Dion Taylor, Ben Ralton, Andy Moore and Ollie Kynge all start for Quins.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Chinnor (v Rosslyn Park, away): Ryan, Holland, Joseph, Grose, Goss, Hopkin, Hoadley, Cano, Norey, Gilding, J Dancer, Jubb, Makaafi, Oliver, Ryan. Reps: Shickerling, Southworth, Russell, Manning, Goodfellow.

Henley Hawks (v Clifton, away): O’Neill, Robinson, Andre, Barnes, Griffiths, Bolster, Webb, Primett, Emery, Manning, Hyde, Albon, Lunnon, Hall, Lowe. Reps: Clarke, Cook, Bradley, White, Janes.

Oxford Harlequins (v Chippenham, home): Henderson, Crowe, Nutt, Kynge, Turetta, Moore, O’Brian, Farahani, Ralton, De Lange, Purchase, Myatt, Alston, Taylor, White. Reps: Tolley, Gill, Garrett.

Witney (v Newbury Blues, away): Gaffney, Birks, Foggett, Godfrey, Lewis, Clarke, Lambourne, Burke, Harris, Wakeman, Webb, Mortimer, Clothier, Campbell, Bayliss. Reps: Nobbs, Caffekey, Turboville.

Grove (v Devizes, away): McCarthy, Tokelove, Hull, Coombs, G Nicholl, Wiltshire, O Nicholl, Hales, Dixey, Hook, Gratwohl, Miles, Ponting, Horrocks, B Nicholl. Reps: Lambourn, Monks, Avenall.

OTHER FIXTURES

Southern Counties North: Bicester v Reading, Wallingford v Slough, High Wycombe v Littlemore.

Southern Counties South: Devizes v Grove.

BB&O Premier: Bletchley v Oxford, Didcot v Hungerford, Drifters v Gosford All Blacks, Wheatley v Risborough.

BB&O Championship: Chipping Norton v Abingdon, Faringdon v Aldermaston, Winslow v Harwell.