Match Preview

DOUBLE-HEADER & LEWIS’S 200 CELEBRATION

Three months short of nine years ago Lewis Hillier pulled on a Guernsey RFC shirt for the first time, against Guildford as it happens.
On Saturday at Footes Lane, our skipper chalks up appearance No. 200 to join a small band of Raiders players who have reached the magnificent milestone in an often punishing era for Guernsey’s finest rugby players.
Never has one needed greater commitment to be a regular Raider, so for Lewis to make 200 is, like the rest who have done it, a marvellous effort.
He is the sixth Raiders player to achieve 200 games, joining Tom Ceillam, Layton Batiste, Blair Campbell, Cameron Craine and Nick Merrien in the club.
And talking of the latter, he returns to the side having made a try-scoring appearance for Vikings at KGV last weekend. Brad Webb drops to the bench. Robin Le Cocq retains his spot after an impressive return last week.

Another returning player is Tom Teasdale, back from injury and in a reshuffle of the backline Anthony Armstrong will play on the wing outside his brother Matt while Joe Andresen shifts to fullback with Owen Thomas back at fly-half.
In the forwards, prop Jacob Pinkney misses out due to the wrist injury he picked up at Bedford, which means a start for Layton.

Sidcup arrive in eighth place in the table and their form is up and down. They are not to be taken lightly though in the 3pm kick off ahead of the women’s league game against leaders Streatham-Croydon at 5pm.

Raiders team: Steventon, Ceillam, Batiste, Hillier, Merrien, Rice, Le Cocq, Horrocks, O’Connor, O. Thomas, Sayer, Teasdale, M. Armstrong, A. Armstrong, Andresen. Replacements: Craine, Webb, Barker.

The Guernsey Raiders Ladies have again been forced into changes, but they go into the game up to fifth in the table and with two wins on the bounce behind them.
Disappointingly, the effective new centre pairing of Sophie Ferbrache and Aimee Gaudion won’t be on show this weekend.
Neither are available this week so another combination of the back line will be on display.
But head coach Steve Evans is confident that the alternative back line will be up to the high standards the squad has set itself this season.
While the backs have been inspiring over the last few weeks the hard work of the forwards has not gone unnoticed, particularly the front row of Pritchard, Smith and Oliver. Smith is also unavailable this weekend so Daisy Travers will step in at hooker.

The full squad is: Elin Pritchard, Tanya Scholtz, Daisy Travers, Kayleigh Oliver, Rachel Merrien, Kristine Vavere (capt.), Kelsey Ormrod, Janelly Casas Zarate, El Woodward, Fiona Drape, Justeen Baker, Aimee Le Bachelet, Georgia Denziloe, Kelly Jones, Jodie Martel, Becky Ashworth, Lael Hollingworth and Isabel Rabey.

Free entry for members and under 16. £9 entry for non-members.