Match Preview

The Vikings are preparing to play our final home league game of the season this Saturday, when Bracknell visit Footes Lane.

Ray Smarts side had a slow start to the season, but have been building positively and finally have found some form as the season draws to a close. They took second-placed Bury St Edmunds very close in their last outing two weeks ago.

Bracknell we’re for the early period of the season the league leaders, and they have produced some very good performances this year. They ran out comfortable 36-7 winners when the Vikings visited them last year.

Ray Smart is looking forward to seeing his side perform this weekend. He said:

‘I am really looking forward to watching the guys battle it out with Bracknell this week. We were pretty good against Bury two weeks ago, particularly in the first half, but a few mistakes cost us the result.’

‘We don’t want to make the same mistakes again this weekend, and we have worked hard to try and fix those areas and we are looking to bring the intensity into this weekend.’

The Vikings have several players returning to action, including regular captain Matt Lomas, who has recovered from the ankle injury he suffered against Richmond enough to make the replacements bench.

Leon Gardner is not available this week, but the Vikings forwards are boosted by the return of Darrin Bellingham, who starts in the front row with James Mroch and Tom Bray. Tom Creed also returns having missed the last few games, and partners with Nick Merrien in the second-row engine room.

Chris Croft is once again available to start, and this week is deployed on the openside flank. He makes up a dynamic back-row partnership which also includes the debutant try-scorer against BSE Liam Welch, and the ever talismanic Mitchell Smith.

James Regnard and Jacob Smith are poised on the bench, waiting to bring their usual significant impact.

Dale Rutledge is also back in the black-and-yellow no. 9 shirt this week, and with it will bring his usual high tempo and excellent distribution skills. He partners a new face for the Vikings this season, Dan Rice.

The fly-half has recently recovered from a knee injury that has kept him out of Guernsey Raiders action for a while. He will steer the Vikings ship this week.

Tom Veillard moves to inside centre following the return of Rutledge. He has been one of the Vikings best performers in the latter part of the season, and his distribution skills will be essential for his side to be effective this week. He is joined by Taylor Quate as his centre partner, who returns to the Vikings side for the first time since the Bournemouth draw in January.

Out wide on the wings is Joe Le Roux and Kieran Creber, and linking them at fullback is Michael Jamieson, who has pace to burn and was nightly impressive against Maidenhead last month. He will be an integral part of this impressive backline combination this week, that on paper looks to be one of the strongest in black-and-yellow this season.

Kick-off is 1pm at Footes Lane on the club pitch, whilst Guernsey Raiders Ladies and Men are also in action over on the Garenne.

Ladies vs Streatham & Croydon | 12pm
Vikings vs Bracknell | 1pm
Raiders vs Esher | 3pm