LUKE’S BACK, BEN ALMOST!
Hertford v 1sts on Saturday
HAVING scored two tries on his return to action last weekend in Jersey, Ben Challinor was being lined up for a place on the first team bench for Saturday’s away clash at Hertford.

Challinor had been side-lined for months, but his pace, strong running and eye for a try, has been swiftly recognised by the head coach Jordan Reynolds.

But no sooner had Challinor been confirmed in the travelling party, he was declared not quite fit enough to make the trip, his knee still playing up despite continued rehab.

His late withdrawal leaves the director of rugby with another player to find for a trip which Reynolds knows will be hard to get a win from, Hertford being one of the very in-form sides in National three.

Reynolds estimates that by winning their five remaining home matches and picking up one win from the remaining three away matches, will be enough to get them out of the trouble.

‘It’s going to be tough and if we can pick up a few bonus points on away travels that would be helpful,’ he said before Thursday training.

Guernsey take a strong squad to Hertford and there is a return at hooker for Luke Gardner after a long injury lay-off.

He is the umpteenth player to fill the 2 shirt in this injury-troubled season.

‘Four points this weekend would be fantastic and could change things a lot, but the mindset is coming down to must-win games now.’

‘We have set our game plan to suit the weather conditions,’ Reynolds said.

‘We have tried to simplify things a little, which is something that will hopefully help us on the day.

‘Hertford are on a pretty good roll at the moment. They have turned it around from the start of the season and are sitting fourth now, so they will be buzzing and their confidence will be high.

‘We are going to have to be smart, but the guys are pretty confident that we can take something away from this game.’

Guernsey team: Craine, Luke Gardner, L. Batiste, Hillier, Sawene, Merrien, Thomas, Barton, Barnes, Walters, Davison, Campbell, Brown, J. Batiste, Hema.

Replacements: Martin, Leon Gardner and AN Other.

RACHEL GETS BRITISH COLLEGES CALL-UP
Great news from the UK today with Rachel Merrien having been confirmed as a member of the British Colleges South-East Sevens squad for the upcoming regional tournament.

Rachel, who is based at Brockenhurst College, came through the final set of trials held at the ground of her home Championship club, Trojans, on Wednesday.

‘I was pretty hopeful of getting in considering I’m now at Championship level,’ she said today.

‘I feel my game has vastly improved.’

The tournament is to be held on the weekend 27-29 March.

LADIES V SEAFORD IN FRIENDLY, SATURDAY KO MIDDAY
Meanwhile, the Guernsey Ladies have a home friendly this weekend with Seaford visiting in a noon kick off at St Peter Port School.

With head coach Chris Griffiths away unfortunately there is no team news available at present, but the game is a vital warm-up for the girls as they prepare for their title push.

Seaford are from East Sussex and currently sit in mid-table in the London & SE Division.

UNDER-16s AT HAVANT
RBSI Academy U16s lead coach Brian Evans is hopeful of a positive result when his side travel to Havant in the Hampshire League on Sunday.

After the struggles to get a squad out for their most recent match, which ended in a heavy defeat, this time around he has 18 travelling, which is four more than last time.

‘But for a couple of injuries it is as strong a squad as we can put out,’ he is happy to report.

‘Hopefully, we can put up a better performance than two weeks ago.’

U15S AT NEW MILTON
The RBSI Academy U15s are also away this weekend and play New Milton for a second time.

With the help of two under-14s, coach Ian Farrell reports he is travelling with a strong squad.

Good luck to all our teams this weekend.