Roundly stuffed 55-0 by a powerful Westcliff 2nds, Mark Stone is urging his young squad to put that behind them with Banks coming up in the Investec CI league this Saturday and an area title still to be won.

‘We have what looks like a strong squad on paper, so I’ll be looking for a response there,’ said Stone who hopes to name today.

‘The squad should be similar to that which played last week although we have lost Giles Quigley to an ankle injury in inter-insular training on Sunday, Jim Elliott is not available to travel, and Callum Gladstone has work commitments.

‘We do have Dom Rice and Dale Martin back who were both in the UK and Alec Bailey is back after a month out with a groin Injury.

‘Taylor Quate and Chris Ahne are also both available for selection for the first time this season.’

Stone said the team had an ‘honest discussion’ after the Westcliff game.

‘We acknowledged that we were significantly out muscled by a physical and well drilled side, on a pretty filthy pitch which played into their hands and there is no shame in that.

‘We didn’t give up and kept fighting for 80 minutes which was pleasing to see and it was a shame we didn’t get a score that we probably deserved.

‘What we need is to be smarter with is our game management and recognising not just our strengths but those of the opposition as well and playing in the context of the game. We were guilty of getting drawn into a physical contest up front which suited Westcliff perfectly.

‘In terms of that physicality it was a level above anything that the JRA can throw at us so it was a valuable experience for what is still a young and developing team.‘

Stone added that if some of these lads have aspirations of being on the Garenne pitch on a Saturday afternoon rather than the St Peter Port School mud on a Saturday morning then that is the level of physicality they will need to learn to deal with.

‘We can’t rely on our 1st XV experienced players such as Leon Gardner and Darrin Bellingham to do all the hard graft.

‘It’s a 15 (20) man game and it’s time to start stepping up to the senior game as we have some big games coming up.’

Last weekend, Les Quennevais edged above Guernsey in the CI table with a big 44-12 win over Beeches

Rupert Lee scored four tries for Les Qs who still have to come to Footes Lane.