Match Preview

RAIDERS IN A RUSH

The Guernsey Raiders have got to start winning ... and quickly, admitted Director of Rugby, Jordan Reynolds.
Two wins out of the next three are key he said while announcing arguably the strongest travelling squad he has been able to name this season.
A host of experienced men return and it will be an enterprising team that run out at fellow strugglers, the Bristol-based side Old Redcliffians, on Saturday.
The hosts kick off one place below Raiders in the league table, before Guernsey play London Irish Wild Geese next week, another team who has struggled early in the season.
They then return to the Bristol area to face Dings Crusaders a week later and Jordan Reynolds has his sights set on a minimum of two wins.
‘We have improved hugely in our defence and we have got some boys coming back from injury.
‘But we have got to find some results soon.
‘There are no excuses now.
‘At one stage we had 15 out, now it is only five or six.
‘We have some experience in the back-line and we will have some good speed out wide.’
There are changes to the pack and with Nick Merrien unavailable, Matt Thomas returns and will take his place in the second row, while young Matt Creber gets a run out.
Luke Sayer and Malcolm Barnes are part of the match-day squad too.
Reynolds has overseen a steady improvement in performance, but the results have not backed that up.
‘We’ve trained pretty well, but the boys have had some much needed rest.
‘We’re still nowhere near our best.
‘Last time we made 27 unforced errors and we need to reduce that down to about 10.
‘But it’s a game that is going to be won up front.’
Old Redcliffians represent a strong challenge.
Last time out, they were only sunk by a very late penalty which gave Tonbridge Juddians a 29-27 win.

Raiders squad:
Sam Steventon, Tom Ceillam, Layton Batiste, Lewis Hillier (capt.), Matt Thomas, Matt Creber, Dom Rice, Douglas Horrocks; Owen Clemett, Henry Greenhalgh, Alex Gow, Elia Morisio, Jason Batiste, Anthony Armstrong, Luke Sayer.
Replacements: Dave Anderson, Cameron Craine, George Shannon, Malcolm Barnes, Callum Gladstone.