Hopes are pinned on the youth

GUERNSEY step into the unknown tomorrow. The full island side make their initial foray into the South Region League Division Two with a trip to Southampton to play Home James and player-coach Sonia Grant-Yendall admitted that she could not predict what her troops would come up against.

'It is all new to us. We are up against unknown quantities,' she said.

'Some of the county teams have opted out of the ECL and joined this competition like us. We have got two county teams - Sussex and Bucks - to play in our six games.

'That is probably the only indication of the level we are going to be playing at. That's quite daunting, but also exciting.

However, for this season Guernsey need to cope without Claire Queripel and Lois Batiste, both of whom are pregnant.

Meanwhile, Nena Bourgaize will play in games but is unable to train with the squad because she is away at police training.

Therefore, the emphasis is on youth this year and that is why Grant-Yendall is happy to be entering the competition in its second division.

'We are having to strengthen the team with the youngsters coming through.

'What we did not want to do was deflate the squad by going up against top teams too early.

'Hopefully we will finish first or second with the opportunity to be promoted and next year really show what we can do.'

Half of this weekend's 10-strong squad are teenagers although all bar Amy Wright have experienced ECL or NCL trips before.

'There is lots of youth, but to be honest, most of the time when they have been up against top opposition, they have come up trumps,' said the coach.

'They will be fine. They don't have any fear and it will be good practice for them.'

The national restructuring is designed to increase opportunities for players to play at a higher level and not limit them.

Grant-Yendall is all for that idea, although she is disappointed that Guernsey have to travel for all their fixtures this season.

'We were told we would be playing home and away. Unfortunately it has not happened this season,' she said, before reflecting on how double-headers might have cost her team before.

'We beat a couple of the teams that finished above us and all the teams we lost against were on the second day of double-headers.

'That is what's disappointing for us. We could have finished in a stronger position if we did not have to do double-headers.'

Guernsey have just one double-header this season but the coach also revealed that they would play in a couple of tournaments during the season.

'We need as much hard competition as possible,' she said.