Promotion is the aim for Panthers, but Meon will be tough start

NENA COPPERWAITE admits Guernsey Panthers will have to 'hit the ground running' this weekend in their National Division Three South promotion quest.

The club, effectively the island representative team, make their return to the English leagues after more than a decade out and host Meon at Beau Sejour on Sunday. It is arguably the toughest opening test for captain Copperwaite and her team, with the Portsmouth-based team finishing as runners-up last season and only narrowly missing out on promotion. They will hope to go one better this campaign and earn the single guaranteed promotion spot, although that is a position the Panthers will also hope to occupy.

'Meon will be the perfect chance to see what this level is all about straight away and where we are at in relation,' said Copperwaite. 'We have done a bit of homework on them, but don't know loads, except that they will be an extremely good team and tough challenge. However, it is one that I believe we are good enough to rise to and if we do the basics right, keep unforced errors to a minimum and score well, I am confident we can get a win.

Sunday's game starts at 2.30pm.