Two 16-year-olds earn their chance with seniors

DENISE BOURGAIZE is hoping for large home support when her Guernsey under-19 team take on Wokingham at the weekend. In a rare home fixture, the Sarnians face the Berkshire side in South Region Division Two on Sunday at Beau Sejour with a midday start.

'It would be nice for the home support to see them play. We really need it.

'Also there's not a lot of good away teams who come over here so it's good to see something different.'

So far in the league this season, the island side has played only a handful of times as opponents have regularly refused to make the trip to Guernsey.

The greens were supposed to take on Swan Centre last weekend, but they pulled out at the last moment.

UK-based teams usually cite expensive travel as the reason for not coming over.

'I do get annoyed and really cross because our girls are paying all the time to play,' said Bourgaize.

The coach's daughter, Zola, who will start at goal attack, captains the Guernsey team.

Vice captain is Lyndsey Bougourd, who like Bourgaize junior is a member of Team South in the National Talent League.

The only squad member not available is Elka De Carteret who has play rehearsals.

Two under-16 players have also been named for the first time - goalkeeper Abbey Bisson and centre Tiffany Gervaise-Brazier.

Both play for Panthers in the new Condor Super League.

'Abbey is really coming into her own this year,' said Bourgaize senior.

'She's playing some awesome netball.

'Tiffany is playing brilliantly as well. She's just a really good all-rounder.'

Another player to make her debut is 17-year-old Elaine Donaldson, who turns out for Thundercats in the Super League.

'This year she's been playing some cracking netball and her game has changed so much since playing in the Super League. She deserves a crack of the whip.'

Guernsey played Wokingham in their opening game of the season.

They won 34-26 and Bourgaize is naturally hoping for a repeat performance.

'It was a really good, hard game,' she said.

'We're hoping for another win. The girls are playing really well but they are coming to us with the bit between their teeth.'