SWINDON fly-half Adam Westall is relishing the improved weather conditions and is hoping to put on a show when his side host High Wycombe tomorrow.

Since the turn of the year, driving rain and freezing conditions have made playing expansive rugby difficult, but now spring is finally here Westall is looking forward to being able to throw the ball around.

“This is definitely the time of year I enjoy the most, when the ground is starting to get hard again, I think most fly halves would say that,” he said.

“In the winter it is hard because the ground is often very soft and difficult to play on.

“But now things have got better we are going to try and throw the ball around a little bit, and that really suits my style.

“I like to run it from anywhere, and I think the rest of our backs do too, although sometimes they get a bit annoyed when I try to go from our own try line.”

Swindon go into the game on the back of a superb victory away at high flying Cheltenham, and Westall is looking for his side to continue their winning run.

“I think this is game will be the first in a long time where we have been able to field the same side two weeks in a row, which will be great for us,” he said.

“We have missed almost an entire team on a couple of occasions this year, and as a result we have lost a few games, but we are firmly back on track now and we want to continue our winning run.

“We were always going to try and blood a few of the younger players looking towards next season, and they have done well which is good for the club, but it is also good for us to get some of our more experienced players back on the field and push for some victories.”

Westall admitted Swindon will be looking for revenge after going down by a point when the two sides met earlier in the season, and is expecting a tough afternoon.

“They have a monster pack and some very good backs too, so we will have to play well. They have a Kenyan international, Akindiji Akinwale, on the wing and we will play special attention to him.

“Their backs can be rapid so we need to keep them under control.”

In National League 3 South West, Chippenham host Newton Abbott.

Old Boys are unbeaten in five games following their 34-7 victory at Princes Risborough, and director of rugby Martin Lloyd is keen to keep the run going against the side sitting second in the Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier table.

“We have been going very well recently and the boys deserve a lot of credit for that. We are all really looking forward to this game because it will be a good test for us and will show us just how far we have come,” he said.

“We are as confident as we can be because we have been playing well for a few weeks, but we are realistic about our chances because they are a good side with some good players.

“We have come on a lot since we last played them, so it will be good to see just how much we have improved.”

The club has introduced a few innovative techniques off the field in a bid for success, including whiteboard and video sessions to review performances, and Lloyd is convinced they are having a positive effect.

“Everyone has bought into it and the atmosphere around the club has been brilliant, especially at training where we have been having great numbers,” he said.

Lloyd has been impressed with his captain Gareth Davies in recent weeks, and has backed the hooker to continue to be the man to lead the team forward.

“Gareth has been superb for us recently, not just on the pitch but also in terms of what he gives us off it. He is truly inspirational and we are lucky to have him. All of the players respect him because he leads by example, and those are two great qualities to have.

“Hooker is not the easiest position to captain from, but he does it very well. He is a great link between the coaches and the players, and he has implemented a lot of good things for us.”

Swindon Supermarine will also be looking to build on their recent good form when they visit Avonvale in Dorset & Wilts 1 North.

Marine beat league leaders Chippenham 2nds on Saturday to tighten their grip on third place, and director of rugby John Godsell is keen to follow it up with another success.

“It is no good winning big games and then not performing the following week, so we will need to play well again,” he said. “We played very well against Chippenham and is has given us a lot of confidence, and we will need to take that into future games.”

Elsewhere in the division, Minety play Bradford on Avon and Fairford visit Calne. Cricklade travel to Melksham 2nds in Dorset & Wilts 2 North.