The National Three London and SE table now shows a definite mid-table split and with Gravesend in the bottom section, hopes will be high that Raiders can shed some disappointing away form and get the win, but it won't be easy.

Gravesend, who are very much a forwards orientated side, beat us on both occasions last season and it would seem that we will be some way short of full strength at their place on Saturday.

Matt Thomas, the first choice No. 8, is away and will not be back in action until the new year, while Ned Brown also remains unavailable.
Luke Sayer is also doubtful but the good news is that the highly influential Robin Le Cocq should have recovered from his back trouble to play.

While yet unable to name his starting XV, Jordan Reynolds has confirmed that youngster Matt Armstrong will definitely be in the squad, 'He could have had a shot a few weeks ago, but the Colts had games and they come before senior games as far as the youngster go,' said the head coach.

Matt remains in the 'one-for-the-future' category as does Taylor Quate, who was given a chance on the wing last weekend at Tonbridge Juddians.

The Gravesend game is one of three in December which the coach has identified as potential wins which would put the Raiders right into the promotion mix, 'We have earmarked see games as potential opportunities,' said Reynolds who laughed off any suggestion that away games are defeat waiting to happen, even if all but one of the side’s five defeats have come away from Footes Lane.

The coach points to the quality of the opposition Raiders have, so far, met on the road, 'TJs was definitely one we could have won. I think these things will change in the second half of the season.'

Meanwhile, it’s pleasing to report a good start to the Colts’ season.
Mat Chammings’ side opened their 2015/6 Sussex Championship league season with an excellent 47-18 win over Hastings & Bexhill Colts.

The start of the season had been delayed for the Guernsey side as the Rugby World Cup disrupted travel arrangements forcing the late re-scheduling of a couple of early fixtures.

Despite the delay, the Colts put in a solid performance holding their own in their set piece and competing well at the breakdown. “We knew Hastings had a big pack and a forwards dominated style of play,” said the head coach, ‘We devised a game plan that limited that advantage and favoured a more expansive style of play. The team has a clear vision of how they want to play this season and we have structured training around this.’

Our Colts ran in eight tries with Tom Craze grabbing two and there were one apiece for Dan Rice, Fraser Wilkes, Jack Tayler, James Monk and Alex King.

Guernsey Colts Squad: Theo Cross, Toby Tayler, Cameron Kidd, Brett Webb, Cameron Hantonne, Jack Tayler, James Monk, Fraser Wilkes, Pierre de Garis, Dan Rice, James Jones, Tom Craze, Matt Armstrong, Piers Holbrook Sanderson, Alexander King and Benjamin Rowe.

Since that game, the lads have gone onto beat the league leaders hayward’s Heath 15-10 on an all-weather pitch at brighton.
The three Guernsey tries came from Monk, Wilkes and Jack Tayler.