Match Preview

NO AERIAL PING-PONG PLEASE

NED BROWN and Luke Sayer are ruled out of the trip to Dorking, but the good news is that Luke Jones is fit and raring to go and Dale Martin returns.
‘It’s good for us that Dale is available again with Robin unable to travel,’ said the head coach Jordan Reynolds.
‘Ned failed a fitness test, he has a bit of an ankle issue,’ added the coach, who is pleased that he is able to switch Luke Jones into his shirt in the middle.
‘Jonesy played at 13 for most of last season so we’re comfortable with moving him there.
‘Luke Sayer was probably 60-70% and could have played at at a push but we have decided to hold him back until after the bye week to make sure he is right for the game against Sidcup.’

It’s difficult what to make of Dorking from the first month of the season.
They currently sit exactly where they finished last campaign - eighth - having won two, lost two.
They edged out Shelford in one of those games and were pipped themselves by Westcliff in the other.
Last week, they were taken for 64 points by Barnes.

Raiders had two stonking games with them last season and who will ever forget that 95-point thriller in front of the Garenne Stand.
We won that one 50-45, but were pipped by five when we went to Dorking in February.
The head coach said it is important Raiders get their heads right and don’t fall into any traps at Dorking.
‘They are very attacking orientated, especially with their back three.
‘The last thing we want to be doing is playing aerial ping-pong with them.
‘They are a pretty good side at home and we have to be pretty honest with ourselves.
‘We have won four in a row, but three of them were pretty marginal.’

TEAM
Sam Steventon, Tom Ceillam, Charlie Currie, Lewis Hillier (capt.), Nick Merrien, Dan Hill, Dale Martin, Douglas Horrocks; Malcolm Barnes, Owen Thomas, Anthony Armstrong, Blair Campbell, Luke Jones, Chris Ahne, Sam Whitehead.
Replacements: Cameron Craine, Luke Skovronek, Kyle Brown.

Vikings home to Rye

THE main domestic action of the weekend sees the Vikings play Rye in their first home game of the season at Sussex Two level.
The game at KGV kicks off at 2pm and your support would be most welcome.
The main team news is that Raiders regular Layton Batiste is named on the bench as he looks to gain some match time after suffering an early season injury.
Ben Holland comes back in, this week at his usual scrum-half position with Tom Teasdale unavailable. Centre Callum Gladstone will also be making his first appearance of the season after a slow recovery from a knee injury sustained in pre-season.

Squad:
Cally Murdoch, James Mroch, Trevor Marquis, Mitch Smith, Jacob Smith, Leon Gardner (Capt), Brett McFarlane, Jonny Laws; Ben Holland, Alec Bailey, Dave Horscraft, Callum Gladstone, Johan Greenberg, Brad Webb, Leon Collenette.
Replacements: Layton Batiste, Hugh Birley, Alan Myers, John Le Noury, Tom Rihoy, Billy Wickham, Connor Sullivan, Cashel Cahill.