Match Preview

St Jacques Vikings host Holbrook today at the KGV, with both teams desperate for the win, although for very different reasons.

Today’s visitors are bottom of Sussex Two, following the withdrawal from the league of previous bottom side Worthing Azurians this week. The Azurians have suffered a player shortage this season, and after several cancelled fixtures have unfortunately announced they will be withdrawing from the league for the remainder of the season. Their withdrawal means Holbrook, who have won only once this season, slip to bottom spot and will be desperate to cause an upset against the Vikings.

Ray Smarts’ side will not be taking Holbrook lightly, as they were in fact the last team to defeat them just over a year ago, and they will want to ensure no such slip up occurs today.

The big team news this week for the Vikings is two debuts for 17 year old Guernsey Rugby Academy Colts, Tom Stables and Kieran Creber. Both are talented backs who have been training with the Vikings for over a month now, and have recently been signed off to make the step up to the senior ranks. Both players will also get their opportunity from the start this week, with Stables starting at scrum-half whilst Creber, the younger brother of former Vikings and now Guernsey Raider Matt, will start on the wing. We hope both lads enjoy the experience today, and we look forward to seeing their development over the rest of the season.

Another Colt starts this weeks also, although Tom Bray has chalked up a couple of Vikings appearances already this season off the bench. He will start in the second row, partnering the experienced Mitch Smith today, as Smart looks to give the young Colt the opportunity to start for the first time this weekend.

In the front row Nico Ashplant returns at prop following overcoming a concussion injury which has kept him out of the last few matches. He is joined by James Mroch and Alan Myers this week. The back-row is made up of Tom Creed who makes his first start for the Vikings, Tor Ritchie-Bandy and captain again this week James Regnard, who will have a vital role to play this week in supporting an inexperienced Vikings back-row.

Tom Stables partners with the ever present this season Matt Lomas in the half-backs, whilst the excellent Connor Sullivan returns following injury to start at outside centre. He partners Lucas Barker who starts at inside centre, Barker is another new player this season who has very quickly become a vital player for the Vikings and will have another big part to play today. On the wings Kieran Creber joins up with Cam Le Prevost who reruns this week whilst Leon Collenette moves back to his regular fullback slot.

On the bench there is a group of experienced players, many of whom are regular starters for the Vikings and will be poised offer impact when they are called on. Barney Paul, Brad Webb, Mark Johnson, Nico Alexandre and Dave Haimes are the experienced replacements, whilst the experienced Ivan Donaldson will get the opportunity to make his home debut from bench.

Kick off is 1.30 at the KGV today, we hope you can join us as we look to extend our winning run to 10 matches this season.

Finally we want to wish Guernsey Raiders good luck as they travel to Dings Crusaders today, with our very own Jacob Smith in line to make his Raiders debut from the bench, which is just reward for his excellent performances this season for the Vikings.