Two-horse race for men's title

CAN Beavers beat Colombians? That is the question as the new Investec Men's League gets under way tomorrow.

It is widely regarded as a two-horse title race between Investec Colombians and Beavers, with Coreix Unwantables and Mosgrove's Yobbos making up the numbers.

It is Colombians who have dominated the local scene since coming to prominence under the guidance of Olly Goddard four years ago. They have won the league every year since 2002.

But with former national league star Andy Whalley leading the charge for Beavers this year, could this be the year for a team that was such a force during the 90s?

'I think if we had everyone available, we would easily be challenging for the title,' said Beavers captain Mark Babbe.

'I think we've got a better side than them but with some of players going, it will be tight. We will be challenging Colombians, without a doubt.'

The players Babbe was referring to are Jonathan (Joffy) Wilkes-Green and Dave Morris. Both forwards broke into the island set-up last year.

Wilkes-Green is off to university soon and Morris will be required to play for Elizabeth College for the latter half of the season when the second league starts.

The men's first division is split into two leagues with the winners of both facing each other in a play-off, if there are different champions.

The duo with Whalley, who is undoubtedly the best player on the island, form a formidable strike partnership.

'Andy with Dave Morris and Joffy up front, it's the island forward line,' said Babbe.

'But after Christmas we're going to be struggling. We've got a few College boys.'

Behind the attackers, Beavers have quality in bucket loads.

The tenacious Babbe will shore up the centre of the park, with Simon Beck on the wing and the sublimely skilled Barry Wallace probably playing more of a defensive role.

At 12.30pm tomorrow, Beavers and Colombians meet each other and it promises to be a very interesting affair.

'Colombians are going to be the team to beat,' said Babbe.

'They've got a lot of players, the other two are really struggling. Saturday will be a very good indication to see how we'll compare to each other.'

Colombians captain Kees Jager agrees with his Beavers counterpart that it will be either side that will be holding the title come the end of the season.

'The league will be between us and Beavers and not the other two,' he said.

'I think it's going to be tight between us. Beavers have picked up a couple of good players.

'They will be our main threat.

'College will be good after Christmas. They will upset a couple of teams.'

The reigning champions are littered with island players. From their archetypal 'fox in the box' TJ Ozanne at striker, to midfielders Damien Wallen, Tristan Cairns and Tim Creasey followed by Matt Elston in the defence, and Jager in goal.

They are also blessed with a big squad with a strong second team in the lower division.

'We've got some strength in depth,' said Jager.

'Because we've been playing together for a couple of years now, our team spirit is getting better. If we win the league, I think we will the Upton for sure.

'Although it's always good to beat Guernsey teams, it's always better to beat Jersey.'

Not to write them both off totally though, Unwantables and Yobbos on their day are capable of upsetting the big two.

However, the John Bell captained Unwantables are set to suffer from the travelling bug this campaign.

They will be without island stars Adrian Peacegood, who is in Toronto after leaving last year, and Jamie Chambers who is in Singapore for the next two years with work.

But they will get to benefit from the services of Kevin Smith in midfield who has returned from Thailand, where he has been for a number of years, and Rob Newton is due back in the early part of the season from travelling the world.

'The thing we're struggling with is walkabouts,' said Bell.

'Chambers is a huge loss and so is Adie. Matt Bain and David Banks are off to university soon as well.

'On a positive note, we've got Kev Smith back, so that's good and Rob Newton will be coming back in the not so distant future. But we could do with a couple more.

'If all our walkabouts came back, we could challenge for the league. Hopefully we'll be middle of the table and have a strong cup run.'

While the other teams have not picked up many new players, it seems that Yobbos have had a busy summer in the 'transfer market'.

They have signed promising juniors, Jonny Clark, a west of England player, and Tim Ravenscroft.

Also Spencer Noyon has left Beavers to join them and they look favourites to acquire the services of the new development officer and former national league player, Ian Le Page.

Keeper Andy Good also joins them from Colombians as Adrian Gidney has moved to between the football posts for Bels in the Priaulx League.

That should go someway to alleviating the pain of losing Nic Chambers, who is plying his trade in Perth for the winter.

Chambers can tear teams apart on his day.

'We've got an injection of youth,' said their captain Steve Ward.

'It's going to be a transitional year. The loss of Chambers will kill us this year.

'We finished second last year but without him, we've not got a chance of that this year.

'We've got no real aspirations for the title but we just want to play good quality hockey like we've always done.'

So there you have it, a two-horse race up until Christmas and then College enter the fray for the second league.

With the likes of Morris, Clark and Ravenscroft all leaving their clubs to play for their school, things will certainly be spicier, but you can never rule out Colombians taking it all.