Jordan Reynolds endured seeing his much patched-up XV edged out by the narrowest of margins, 24-23. ‘It was a fair result for both teams – if we had won the game, it would not have been fair on Westcliff who played a tough game and they are a pretty good side,’ said the head coach later.

That day Raiders Leon Gardner had answered an SOS on Friday to fill in on one wing of a depleted backline and regular flanker Dale Martin showed his versatility on the wing.
‘It seems every time we go to Westcliff we are at our absolute worst selection-wise,’ Reynolds added, but the good news ahead of the return clash tomorrow at Footes Lane is that he is almost spoilt for choices.

Other than injuries to the Batiste boys and Kenny Hellier, Raiders are at full strength this week with the likes of Luke Sayer, Malcolm Barnes and Sam Whitehead in the back three and a bench comprising Luke Skovronek, Romain Mercadal and Blair Campbell.
But, be warned, revenge won’t come easily.

Westcliff lie seventh, and since the turn of the year have gone on a fine little run, having won four games in a row against sides below them in the table. At our best Raiders should have enough about them though and Reynolds is urging his team to maintain focus over the last weeks of the season and that the remaining home games, including this one, are ‘pretty huge for us’.

The game kicks off at 2pm and climax a big day for the game, coming as it does after the Inter-Insular match which, of course, will feature many GRFC fringe players and emerging Colts stars.

As yet coach Steve Melbourne has not made his starting XV public, but it promises to be a cracking game with Jersey sending over a strong squad in a bid to regain the trophy.

Raiders team:
Cameron Craine
Tom Ceillam
Sam Steventon
Lewis Hillier
Nick Merrien
Dan Hill
Dale Martin
Matt Thomas
Adam Nixon
Owen Thomas
Ned Brown
Luke Jones
Malcolm Barnes
Sam Whitehead
Luke Sayer

Replacements:
Luke Skovronek
Romain Mercadal
Blair Campbell