Ceillam reaches 250

Although Guernsey coach Jordan Reynolds has opted to name his home-grown hooker as a replacement against Tonbridge Juddians at Footes Lane following his exertions away to Birmingham & Solihull last week, Ceillam, 28, is in line to make a big impact off the bench to mark his newest milestone.

‘I was saying to the boys that to play 100 games for a club is pretty big, to play 200 is almost unheard of, so notching up 250 means you have missed very few games throughout basically a decade and in a game like rugby, which can be brutal at times, that is a feat that does not often happen,’ Reynolds said.

‘It would be good to see if Tommy Rae and Layton [Batiste], who is just ahead of him on appearances, can hit 300 games because I think those would be records that will not be touched for a very long time.

‘When Tom came into the side at 17 he was playing back row for us, we converted him into a hooker and he has just been outstanding.’

Fullback Anthony Armstrong also brings up a milestone tomorrow as he makes his 50th appearance.

‘For such a young lad who has had big setbacks with injuries, to get to 50 games is a fantastic achievement and I really feel Anthony is hitting some big form at the moment – he wants the ball in his hands, making big carries and getting his confidence back,’ said Reynolds.

Having picked up a knock at Bees last week, Doug Horrocks will not be risked this weekend with next week being a bye week.

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His place at No. 8 will be filled by Matt Creber, who missed the trip to the Midlands due to exams.

Sam Steventon returns to the front row and there was also good news for Reynolds regarding loanee-prop Patrick Schickerling.

‘Exeter Chiefs actually came to us to see if we could use Pat again and get him more game time,’ said the Raiders coach.

‘The main thing for us is to try and keep this link going.

‘It is something we have been looking to develop with a club where we can help each other out and Exeter have put their hand up.’

Having hosted the runaway league leaders Rams in their last home fixture, Raiders now face the daunting prospect of welcoming the team who ended Rams’ record winning run last week when third-placed TJs inflicted a 25-19 defeat on the champions-elect.

‘TJs are trying to claim a top-two spot, but we will give it the best shot we can, that’s for sure,’ Reynolds said.

‘I have watched their game with Rams back and the amount of mistakes Rams made left me wondering where those mistakes were against us,’ he added with a wry smile.

Guernsey Raiders team

Steventon, Baron, L. Batiste, Webb, Merrien, Shannon, Rice, Creber, Teasdale, O. Thomas, Aremu, Campbell, J. Batiste, Ahne, Armstrong. Replacements: Schickerling, Ceillam, Quate plus two others tbc.