Match Preview

St Jacques Vikings travel to Crawley on Saturday to take on St Francis looking to continue their winning start to the season. Ray Smart’s side began the season with a narrow 7-0 victory over Newick two weeks ago, and he will be hoping that they can build on that performance as they settle into the new season.

The Vikings have picked up several new faces for this season, and against Newick new fly-half Matt Lomas stood out as he picked up the man of the match award with an excellent performance, and once fully settled in will be a key player for the side. This weekend they will introduce a further three new signings with prop Barnaby Paul, big New Zealand back-row Mark Johnson and Guernsey cricketer Lucas Barker. These additions will strengthen the black and yellows squad greatly, which had seen several depart at the end of season to either the Raiders or to university in the UK.

St Francis are another forward’s dominated side similar to Newick, but last season the Vikings handled them very well & overcame them in both fixtures, which included a particularly pleasing performance at the KGV in December with Tom Teasdale starring on that occasion.

Ray Smart is aware his team must improve on their last performance, but with no recognised preseason fixtures it was always likely it may take a few matches to find the performance levels of last season. He will be hoping the work they have been doing in training, particularly around the breakdown where they were weak against Newick will pay dividends this week, and allow the fast ball his backs crave. St Francis will target this area with their big forwards, so ensuring they are efficient will be important.

In naming his squad Smart is able to recall an exciting quad of backs. Connor Sullivan who can play across the back line returns after travelling during the summer but will start on the bench. He has not yet training this season, but he starred last season for the Vikings with various excellent performances, including during the Fallaize Cup win on Siam day. Callum Gladstone who was another player that shined last season and who has been training with the Raiders squad thus far and also returns to the side, playing this week at outside centre and stepping up as captain. David Haimes also returns and he too will start on the bench. The Wigan man has primarily played at fly-half and on his day can unlock defences and free up space for his outside backs colleagues. He played at fullback against Holbrook at the end of last season, and will most likely get another go there when he comes on this weekend. Uni based Gearoid Lee competes the group, playing as a second playmaker at inside centre. They are joined by Ben Holland and Matt Lomas in the halfbacks, exciting youngster Leon Collenette at fullback who although only aged 18 has picked up many Vikings caps over the past two seasons and the backs are completed with Cameron Le Prevost and Lucas Barker on the wings.

In the forwards Barnaby Paul starts at loosehead prop for his debut, he has recently returned to the island after studying at university in the UK and played to a decent standard whilst over there. He will be joined by Nico Ashplant and David Anderson at hooker and tighthead respectively. James Mroch misses out this week due to the injury he picked up against Newick. Jacob Smith continues in the second row and is joined again by his brother Mitch, whilst the backrow is made up of Chris Croft, Brad Webb and new exciting Kiwi Mark Johnson at number 8. With Tom Rihoy and James Regnard both unavailable this week, the addition of the Vikings new number 8 has come at a convenient time. He has recently moved to the island to teach at Les Beaucamps School, and looks to be classy experienced player who was last season playing for Hammersmith & Fulham in London Two.

Ray Smart will hope his side can take another step forward this week with a big win and an improved performance.

Squad
1. B Paul
2. N Ashplant
3. D Anderson
4. M Smith
5. J Smith
6. B Webb
7. C Croft
8. M Johnson
9. B Holland
10. M Lomas
11. L Barker
12. G Lee
13. C Gladstone (c)
14. C Le Prevost
15. L Collenette

16. T Ritchie-Bandy
17. C Sullivan
18. D Haimes
19. D Horscraft