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A full weekend of rugby ahead

A full weekend of rugby ahead

Natalie Davidson9 Oct 2014 - 19:20
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All three senior teams in action and four Academy teams travel to the UK

The thought that Guernsey will have a cracking XV and be the match for any side in National 3 London SE when most are fit gets stronger with the news of two excellent new recruits arriving, just when they were needed.

Making their debuts against Hertford at Footes Lane on Saturday evening will be the young Kiwi Matt Hema, who joins for the season, and outside centre Ned Brown, who featured for the club in the pre-season friendly against Cornish Pirates and impressed greatly.

Coach Jordan Reynolds has seen video footage of the young man, who turned 21 this week, and reckons him to be an exciting addition capable of playing anywhere across the backline.

Further positive news is that Robin Le Cocq returns this weekend, as does Sam Whitehead but as things stand the starting XV is not yet decided.

Meanwhile, Nick Barton, Malcolm Barnes and Blair Campbell are very close to a return - probably next weekend.
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Other great news is that the Academy trio of Dom Rice, Harry Finch and Ben Honour, have won places in the Hampshire U18s Colts squad after successful trials.

We have never had three lads through at the same time at Colts level and their rapid progress augurs well for the future.
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Meanwhile, the Ladies and the 2nds are also in action this weekend.

The Ladies play their first away game against Harlequins and coach Chris Griffiths said the team are 'all feeling quietly confident' ahead of the game.

'They are a side that has suffered two heavy defeats already this season, but we do not want to take anything for granted.

'Training has once again gone very well over the last two weeks and even with some regulars unavailable we are able to field a strong squad.

'There are quite a few League debutants playing for us this weekend in the shape of Caitlin Bowie, Rosemary Hall, Lauren Williams and Katie Conroy and it will be a great opportunity for them to show what they can do.

Team: 1, Michaela Rabey; 2, Eleanor Woodward; 3, Heidi Mahy; 4, Kristine Vavere (captain); 5, Tanya Scholtz; 6, Laura Heales; 7, Fiona Power; 8, Vicky Rang; 9, Hannah Lord; 10, Jemma Crouse; 11, Anneka Saunders; 12, Hannah McLennan; 13, Mae Skillen; 14, Caitlin Bowie; 15, Rosemary Hall.

Replacements: Emma Rayson, Sophie O’ Connell, Katie Conroy and Lauren Williams.
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Twenty-four hours ahead of that match the Guernsey 2nds aim to make it a hat-trick of wins at the start of the new JRA league season.

Mark Stone's side take on Banks at Footes Lane on Saturday lunchtime and should be stronger than a week ago when they won away at Beeches.

The pack is more or less the same as the previous game with Laurence Hill-Tour coming in for the injured try scorer John Bergh and captain Russell Roberts moving from 8 to the second row.

'Rich Hile comes onto the flank which is his preferred position despite playing at 2 and 12 for the 1sts so far this season and Dale Martin who has been man of the match in his first two games for us moves to 8. We are hoping he can have a real influence on the game from the base of the scrum,' said the coach.

The backs are reinforced with Andy Rigden available again after work commitments, and Alec Bailey and Ollie Daunt drop down from the firsts.

There is also a chance that Jim Elliott could return after a broken foot.

Team: 1, Laurence Hill-Tout; 2, Daniel De Kock; 3, Cally Murdoch; 4, Mitchell Smith; 5, Russell Roberts; 6, Nico Ashplant; 7, Richard Hile; 8, Dale Martin; 9, Andy Rigden; 10, Alec Bailey; 11, Naro Zimmerman; 12, Jim Elliott or Jim Rowe; 13, Callum Gladstone; 14, Ollie Daunt; 15,Shane Taylor

Replacements: Fergus Moriarty, Jim Rowe, Andy Bailey, Diogo De Frietas, Seoirse Lee and Jacob Smith
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The Academy has three teams travelling to the UK on Sunday with the Colts taking on Crawley and the U15s in New Milton. The U9s and U10s are at Festivals in Maidenhead and Manchester respectively.

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