Valley host Halesowen Town at Butlin Road this evening for their opening home game of the new BGB Premier season, with both sides looking to gain their first points.

	Date Tuesday 19th August 2008 Kick-off 7.45pm Venue Butlin Road, Rugby Comp BGB Premier Division Match Odds Rugby 17/10 Draw 5/2 Halesowen 6/5 Dave Pearson netted in a 2-1 win against Halesowen last season at Butlin Road Head2Head P W D L F A Home 10 6 2 2 16 10 Away 8 1 2 5 6 16 Total 18 7 4 7 22 26

Both clubs come into tonight's game on the back of opening day defeats with Halesowen suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Tiverton Town.

Yeltz have been widely tipped for success this season and the bookmakers have made them one of the early favourites to take the league championship - especially after surging up the table at the back end of last season to finish second under the leadership of Morrell Maison.

They were defeated in the play-offs but many see them going a step further this season to take the automatic promotion spot - all the more reason why their home reversal on Saturday came as a big surprise.

By contrast, Rugby were not expected to get anything from the game at Farnborough but by the full time whistle there was bitter disappointment not to come away with all three points or at the very least a draw having taken a 1-0 lead into the final five minutes before conceding two late goals.

Rugby recorded two wins over Halesowen at Butlin Road last season including a 2-1 win in the league in January when Dave Pearson and Scott Musgrove were on target for Valley.

Despite being sent off on Saturday, Ashley Walker's automatic 3-match suspension does not kick in until 30th August while Andy Commander will hope be fit enough to play despite a shoulder injury.

Club captain Craig Herbert is still nursing a back injury, Neil Melvin is out with a twisted ankle, while Daren Dykes serves the second match of a three-game ban.

Rugby Town Squad From: Andrew Stevens, James Martin, Delroy Gordon, Richard Scott, Andy Commander, Ashley Walker, Steve Purton, Kevin Banner, Neil King, Kieran Fitzharris, Edward Ryan, Mark Edge, Matt Gearing, Avun Jephcott, David Kolodynski, Dave Pearson, Rory Curtis, Ashley Robinson, Dolapo Olaoye.

Unavailable: Craig Herbert (back injury), Daren Dykes (suspension), Jason Taylor (knee), Neil Melvin (ankle).