Guernsey Press

Nixon moves into No. 10 as Raiders prepare to host Wimbledon

RAIDERS will look to put a dent in Wimbledon's promotion hopes without three big names at Footes Lane tomorrow.

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RAIDERS will look to put a dent in Wimbledon's promotion hopes without three big names at Footes Lane tomorrow.

Guernsey's back line is shorn of influential fly-half Owen Thomas, the versatile Sam Whitehead and flyer Luke Sayer for the visit of the side sitting second in National Three London & South-East and still within striking distance of long-time leaders Tonbridge Juddians.

Thomas tore his hamstring during last week's win at Amersham & Chiltern and is likely to face between two and four weeks on the sidelines, while Whitehead needs a scan on a knee injury and Sayer has damaged his shoulder, although he could return as soon as next week.

For this weekend, however, it means that both of Guernsey's regular scrum halves, Malcolm Barnes and Adam Nixon, will start as a half-back pairing tomorrow, with Nixon filling the No. 10 shirt while veteran Jim Elliott joins Dave Davison and Kenny Hillier in the back three.

'Even with Owen, Sam and Luke it was going to be a pretty big test against Wimbledon, but we felt going into this game that it was a good opportunity for us and we would be confident going into it,' said Raiders coach Jordan Reynolds.

'But despite those three guys being out, we still have a good squad and a strong pack who have been playing together regularly. The back row has been playing fantastically, hence why I find it a struggle to pick who will start each week.'

  • Full preview of tomorrow's 2pm kick-off in Friday's Guernsey Press.

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