OWEN Thomas will sit out Saturday’s away game at Shelford where Raiders to make it four wins from four National Three London & South-East games this month. The vice-captain took a big blow to the shoulder area last weekend and with several options at his disposal the coach has plumped for moving new man Kenny Hellier forward from fullback to play at No. 10.

Raiders are without 11 players for the game, but it still looks a mightily strong side heading off to take on a team that have won one and lost two to date. In another enforced change, captain Lewis Hillier moves from the second row into the back row.
Luke Skovrenek comes back into the starting XV and given that Shelford’s strength - certainly last season - is in the pack , it seems sensible to try and counter that threat with three very mobile back-rowers in Hillier, Matt Thomas and Dan Hill.

But just because the 1st XV are away again this weekend, does not mean there is no rugby for GRFC members to enjoy. Down at KGV on Saturday lunchtime, many of our boys start under the guise of St Jacques in the Hampshire Merit Solent League.
One notable starter for the Saints’s is Jason Batiste who was in the Raiders side earlier this season.

After a tough 30-0 away loss two weeks ago against Havant Dolphins, coaches Steve Melbourne and Jon Bell are hoping for an improved performance from their young side this weekend.

The St Jacques coaches are able to recall on several experienced heads who missed the trip to Havant, the three most notable inclusions are that of multiple Siam Cup player Batiste, St Jacques stalwart Bjorn Van Der Kammen and the exciting footballer come centre Piers Ockleford.

Batiste and Ockleford will play in the centres with Guernsey Colt Dan Rice on the wing, Diogo De Freitas on the other flank and Taylor Quate at fullback. The action gets underway on Saturday from 11.30 with the Guernsey Rugby Academy, with St Jacques and Winchester taking the field at 1.30pm.

Guernsey Raiders:
Steventon, Ceillam, Batiste, Skovronek, Merrien, Hillier, Hill, M. Thomas, Nixon, Hellier, Davies, Brown, Jones, Challinor, A. Armstrong
Replacements:
Collenette, Ashplant, Ahne

St Jacques:
Le Noury, Webber, Myers, Quigley, Mitch Smith, McFarlane, Laws, Van Der Kammen, Wood, Chammings, Rice, Batiste, Ockleford, De Freitas, Quate
Replacements:
Mroch, Malagodi, J. Smith, Dempsey, Addis, Webb and Greenberg