Guernsey Press

St Jacques target title bid

ST JACQUES and their new partnership with Guernsey Raiders officially gets under way this weekend, as the KGV side return to Hampshire Solent League One action away to Havant Dolphins.

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After a disastrous last season saw the 2014-15 Solent League champions finish bottom of the league following various issues on and off the pitch, all involved with the club hope they have put those issues to bed and they can look forward to a successful and enjoyable season which hopefully will bring the trophy back to the KGV.

The Solent League One this season has a slightly different look to it as it has now been streamlined down to eight sides, with Basingstoke Dragons dropping down to Solent League Two, and Eastleigh Seconds returning to Solent One after a solid campaign last season.

St Jacques know that another successful winning campaign replicating two seasons ago will be enough to secure promotion to the Hampshire League proper for the first time for the club, which would be the biggest achievement in their 38-year history.

Following the new relationship with Guernsey Raiders, there will be some new faces running out at the KGV this season, many of whom starred in the excellent Guernsey Rugby Association Inter-Insular Select victory over Jersey in March.

There are also several young faces from the Guernsey Rugby Academy stepping up to senior rugby at Solent League level this season, which has helped to form a strong squad for coaches Steve Melbourne and Jon Bell to choose from.

Bell, who along with Melbourne will have high expectations of their team this season, outlined the style of play they wish to implement.

'We want to play aggressive rugby and work really hard to wear down teams and to make the most of the players at our disposal,' he said.

'We have some very strong, aggressive and mobile forwards this season along with a group of backs with great talent, handling and pace.

'We have to make sure we go and win the battle up front in the forwards, before creating space and running the opposition off the park with our backs.

'We have the players to do that this season, we just have to continue to work incredibly hard in both training and in games to ensure we do everything we can to do that, and continue to strive to get better.'

  • More in Friday’s Guernsey Press.

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