Match Preview

St Jacques Vikings travel to Newick on Saturday, the only team to have officially beaten them at home this season.

After the disappointing news they have been deducted three points for fielding an ineligible in the clash against Plumpton last weekend and the result reversed, they will be keen to ensure they beat Newick this week to keep their title challenge going.

The Vikings produced a good performance last weekend, and were patient in building the phases on attack. They also were equally patient on defence, allowing Plumpton to attack and trusting in themselves. That is something they have failed to do for much of the season so far, and travelling coach Martin Warner-Green will be hoping his team can again replicate that.

Newick proved themselves to be a powerful side when the black and yellows hosted them at the KGV back in October. On that occasion Newick won 24-29, and had tested the Vikings defence the whole game. However since then the visitors have worked hard to improve their defending, and will be expecting to nullify the threat this week.

The Vikings name a side with several changes, Connor Sullivan, Callum Gladstone, Dave Horscraft, Tom Rihoy and Dave Haimes are all unavailable.

Uni based Gearoid Lee comes back in at flyhalf, with Alec Bailey starting at inside Centre. Taylor Quate who was man of the match last weekend moves forward to outside centre, with impressive Guernsey Colt Leon Collenette replacing him at fullback. On the wing another Colt is in line to make his debut for the Vikings, Cameron Le Prevost. The young man has impressed for the Colts this season with his electric pace, and the Vikings coaches now think he is ready for the step up to senior Rugby. Cashel Cahill joins Le Prevost on the opposite wing, and the experienced Johan Greenberg continues at Scrum-half.

In the forwards Callum Murdoch returns to start in the front row, with skipper Leon Gardner and Nico Ashplant alongside him. The Smith brothers continue as ever in the second row, and in the backrow Alfie Penney, Alex Lock & James Regnard continue knowing they will have a big workload ahead of them if the are to nullify the Newick attacking threat around the fringes of the breakdown.

On the bench Alan Myers, John Le Noury & Tom Veillard will provide the reinforcements.