Match Preview

St Jacques Vikings travel for their final away game of the season knowing victory is a must if they are to maintain their unbeaten league record and set up a huge clash with second placed Barns Green next weekend at Footes Lane.

They face St Francis in Crawley at lunchtime today, and whilst the Vikings have never lost to the other ‘Saints’ in the league they are expecting a tough match-up.

The hosts have improved dramatically as the season has gone on and they have been playing some really good rugby of late. In two recent matches with Barns Green they were leading until the last 10-minutes before eventually surrendering the victory. Coming off the back of that they are expected to be full of confidence at home today and the Vikings are going to have produce be on their best form to overcome the challenge.

The Vikings are missing several regular players with two playing for the Raiders today against Canterbury in Callum Gladstone and Matt Lomas. They are also without skipper Leon Gardner who has remained in Guernsey with his pregnant partner who is due to give birth any day now.

James Regnard will miss the trip with an ankle injury, he is in a race to be fit for the crucial clash against Barns Green next week. Regular scrum-half Lucas Barker is also sidelined with a shoulder injury, but he is expected to be fit for next weekend.

Whilst the Vikings will miss the leadership of Gardner and Regnard their boots are ably to be filled by two experienced heads in Dave Harvey and Darrin Bellingham. The two former Raiders have recently joined the ranks of the Vikings and will some vital experience to a fairly inexperienced forward pack today.

UK based scrum-half Tom Veillard joins up with the Vikings squad to replace Barker today. Leon Collenette continues at fly-half and is joined by Connor Sullivan and Cashel Cahill in the centres. Joe Le Roux returns from injury and starts at fullback today, whilst there is a competitor debut for James Strang on the wing.

The Vikings know they must overcome this test today before the final and most vital match next weekend.