North 'clincher' delayed

NORTH'S expected Priaulx championship party this weekend could be put back 24 hours. The GFA has agreed to the league leaders' request to have tomorrow's scheduled game against Vale Rec pushed back to Sunday due, in the main, to the island under-18s playing tomorrow.

North, who have injury worries surrounding Muratti defenders Simon Johns and Michael Wilson, provide eight of Tony Vance's youth squad who take on Dorset in the South-West Counties Youth Championship at Blanche Pierre Lane (4pm kick-off).

The chocolate-and-blues also have a Railway game tomorrow and effectively to put out three sides on the same afternoon was too big a challenge for his club, said North coach Geoff Tardif.

'Vale Rec understand our problem and have been very good about it,' said Tardif, who wants the title wrapped up this weekend and does not want it decided by the final game against rivals St Martin's.

Saints need to beat Rovers tomorrow at Port Soif to keep the championship alive for 24 hours and even if they do, they will still need to win their remaining three games while North lose against Vale and St Martin's.

Tardif said that Johns was definitely out and Wilson, who damaged his knee playing for Guernsey last weekend, was also very doubtful.

'He's desperate to play but you've got to be sensible about it.'

In a second Priaulx game tomorrow, Rangers entertain Sylvans at St Andrew's.