Two new faces as Guernsey start EH Trophy defence
EARLIER this month he was named Guernsey's cricketer of the year but now Matt Stokes has turned his attention to helping the island hockey side defend the EH Trophy.
The 19-year-old is one of two new faces in the squad selected by player-coach Andy Whalley to face Basingstoke in the first round on Sunday, the other being Alex Setters.
'Matt Stokes has been training really, really well and is a very skilful player,' Whalley said yesterday.
'Alex Setters played a key role for Indies when they won the league last season and so he gets his chance too.'
However, Guernsey will be without the captain who lifted the EH Trophy in May as well as the man who scored the winning penalty in the shootout in the final as both Andy Alford and Matt Watson are unavailable.
In total, there are six absentees from the side from that day in Nottingham with Damian Wallen, Jordan Cameron, Carl Pugh and Tim Ravenscroft all missing for various reasons.
However, Whalley emphasised that the new players coming in 'have real quality'.
GUERNSEY SQUAD
Jake Le Marchant, Adrian Gidney, Adie Peacegood, Ben Cormack, Andy Dawson-Ball, Chris Lowin, Tristan Cairns, Andy Whalley (player-coach), Adam Cox, Andy Le Page, Alex Setters, Matt Stokes, Sam Dawes, Zak Damarell, Steve Waldrom, Josh Kendal.
More in todays Guernsey Press.
