Match Preview

THREE CHANGES FOR TUNBRIDGE TRIP

After the bruising encounter with Rochford, Raiders are forced into two changes and willingly make a third as the side travel to Tunbridge Wells this weekend aiming to complete a notable league double on the boys from Kent.
With Courtney Raymond set to miss a couple of games through concussion, Brad Webb steps back in, with captain Lewis Hillier moving to flanker,
Meanwhile, Mike Agyei-King returns on the wing in place of ther unavailable Jason Batiste whose brother Layton is rotated onto the bench with Jacob Pinkney starting.
Three and a half months have passed since Raiders inflicted a 31-7 defeat on Tunbridge Wells and picked up a bonus point, too.
‘It was a physical game for sure. I know now why they were only just behind us [in the table],’ said coach Jordan Reynolds at the time.
‘I couldn’t tell the difference between their tighthead and their No. 8 and I mean that as a compliment – they were big, strong boys and it was good to see our guys front up to that,’ our coach added.
In October, No. 8 Douglas Horrocks, captain Lewis Hillier and wing Naki Veamatahau were among the Guernsey try-scorers, but it was the man who touched down twice, Matt Armstrong, who Reynolds picked out for special praise that day.
Then, it was still early days for Matt as a centre.
Since then, the younger Armstrong has gone from strength to strength and will again pair up with Owen Thomas in the central area tomorrow.
The coach says he is targeting a maximum 50 points from the last 10 games and if we are to overhaul Rochford we may need all 50.

Incidentally, the pitch at Tunbridge Wells’ is waterlogged, so the match has been moved to the 3G pitch at the nearby Bennett Memorial Diocesan School (Culverden Down, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge Wells TN4 9SH).
Kick off 2pm.
Pre and post match events will still take place at Tunbridge Wells RFC.

Raiders team: Craine, Ceillam, Pinkney, Webb, Merrien, Hillier, Rice, Horrocks, O’Connor, Andresen, Agyei-King, Thomas, M. Armstrong, A. Armstrong, Sayer.
Replacements: L. Batiste, Steventon, Barker.