Regnard returns to face tough Millbrook

THERE will be some added spice to Guernsey's home match tomorrow as they meet one of the two sides to have taken points off them this season. Millbrook are the visitors to Foote's Lane and back in November they held Rob Box's side to a 22-22 draw.

But Guernsey captain Carl Johnson said he was 'reasonably confident' of taking maximum points against the same opposition this time around.

'I suppose we should want to give them a thumping after they drew with us but any structured win will suit us,' he said.

'They have improved this season; I think they turned over New Milton, who are fourth, a couple of weeks back so they have jumped up the table.'

Johnson pinpointed one danger in the Millbrook armoury that his side will need to nullify if they are to succeed.

'Their strength is probably in their forwards. They have got a really big number eight and he is the key to their game. He has been playing for them for many years and so he is getting a bit older now and if we can shut him down, we should beat them.

'Last time, we did not do that, although we did have James Regnard missing through injury, and they scored quite a lot of their points through mauling tries,' Johnson said.

Kiwi prop Steve Hale will be missing once again for the Sarnians due to a persistent elbow injury and influential fly-half Stuart Lloyd-Jones is also likely to be unavailable.

n?Guernsey team (kick-off 2.15pm on Saturday): Thomas, Mroch, Hayward, McGall, Yabsley, Willis, Mahy, Regnard, Gardner, van den Heever, Bailey, Johnson, Livesey, Elliott, van der Merve. Replacements: Jones, Ogier, Hards.

Meanwhile, Les Quennevais will provide tough opposition at KGV for St Jacques as the Sugden Cup returns on Sunday at 11.30am after its Christmas break.

Guernsey's all-blacks were hammered by the Jersey club in a double header league and cup fixture earlier this season but captain Stef Bampton reported that his side should put up a better display this time around.

'We took a weak side for that game and we did not have the best preparation being on the same day as the England v. France World Cup semi-final. We are certainly picking from a better position of strength this time. Les Quennevais are a settled, strong and well-drilled side and we will have to tackle better than we did in the first game,' Bampton said.