Match Preview

St Jacques Vikings Head Coach Ray Smart and his management team have been ‘through the mill’ this week, after their proposed play-off fixture against Midhurst at the KGV was cancelled. With league fixtures sparse since the turn of year, this was devastating news for the club to potentially lose another fixture as his team seek to secure the Sussex Division Two title. But step forward Brighton Blues, the UK south coast club quickly responded to an ‘SOS’ call and are sending over their 2nd XV to battle it out with the Vikings.

Whilst this is excellent news as the Vikings will have a fixture, it also provides a stern test for them as the visitors play two levels higher in the Zoo Sports Shield Division Three and are currently second in the league standings. Ray Smart has previously said this is the level in the immediate future he would like to see the Vikings playing at, so it will be interesting to see how their fair.

James Regnard will captain the side this week as regular skipper Leon Gardner is ill. Regnard will have a massive part to play in the game, with his ability to get the team over the gain line just as vital as his leadership this week against proposed strong opposition. Brad Webb is also required by the Raiders this week, but otherwise Ray Smart has a strong pack available which is going to be vital.

The Smith brothers, Jacob & Mitchel have been so impressive this season and they both start. Jacob, who has been on the fringes of the Raiders squad starts in the second-row alongside the rapidly improving Tom Creed who gets his biggest opportunity to shine this week, whilst Mitchell starts on the blindside flank, a position he was unfamiliar with until this season but one in which he has excelled in.

In the backs the Vikings have two of their regulars unavailable, with fly-half Matt Lomas and winger Joe Le Roux both out injured. Lomas picked up an ankle injury playing for the Raiders last weekend whilst Le Roux has not yet overcome a medial ligament strain which occurred in the win against Shoreham several weeks ago. Leon Collenette starts at fly-half and Callum Gladstone comes into inside centre after playing for Raiders recently, whilst the impressive Connor Sullivan starts at full-back. On the wings Academy Colt Phil Le Noury starts alongside Cam le Prevost, who is now surely one of the first names on the teamsheet for Smart.

The Vikings bench is packed full of power and experience, both vitally important this week. Three former Raiders are named with Darrin Bellingham, Dave Harvey & Dave Davison all set to feature, whilst young colts Kieran Creber and Tom Bray are also named. Former Guernsey sprinter Matt de Carteret is also named on the bench for what will be his second match for the Vikings, he is another product of the Rabeys 10’s and looks to have a big future out wide on the wing.

The match kicks off at 13.30 at the KGV and we would welcome your support for this massive match!