Back in action

GUERNSEY are out to maintain their 100% winning record in their second English Counties League double-header this weekend. It is over three months since the Sarnians began their campaign with victories away to Herefordshire (48-52) and East Devon (46-64) but coach Tracie Hards believes the long lay-off from representative games will not have an adverse effect on her players.

'The girls and I are looking forward to it because it has been a long time since our last games in November,' she said.

'But they have been playing regularly for their club sides anyway and we do get together once a week and have a good training session.

'We have worked on a few things such as centre passes although there is only so much you can try outside an actual match.'

This is the first Guernsey squad to be announced since the departure of former regular goal-attack Jenny Jordan, who has emigrated to New Zealand.

But on the plus side for Hards, Kerrie Hussey returns after a break from the game, albeit in a different position. She will be linking up in attack with Sonia Grant-Yendell.

'Kerrie is now playing goal-shooter and she will be a good asset with her height,' said Hards.

'Sonia is pretty accurate with her shooting but if she ever misses, hopefully Kerrie will be able to take the rebound.

'Sonia did play GS last time and at GA she will be getting around the court a lot more, but we have a good option in taking Anna Trump who is really nippy around court and we can use her if we need to give Sonia a rest.'

This double-header begins with a match against East Dorset tomorrow before Guernsey face the Royal Navy on Sunday.

The Sarnians currently lie fifth in the ECL South-West Division table with games in hand on all the other teams. Only leaders Cornwall are also unbeaten at this stage.

East Dorset are one place above Guernsey while the Navy are bottom of the pile having lost all five of their fixtures thus far.

'I am fairly confident we are going to have two wins,' Hards said.

'You do not want to go in over-confident because you can never be sure what sort of side they will have out on the day, but on paper we have got a really strong team and morale is good.

'It is going to be a pretty nice trip for us because the venues are pretty close. We are playing in Bournemouth first and then go up to Portsmouth for the Navy game.