Dodd keen to get his house in order
ST MARTIN’S will be without two of their most experienced and influential players for tonight’s Jeremie Cup semi-final clash against Sylvans at Northfield.
New house-buyer Jamie Dodd has yet to be seen at Blanche Pierre Lane in the short time they have been able to resume training for the late-winter into spring run-in, while Simon Geall is injured.
‘Simon broke down in training with a recurrence of the knee injury he picked up against Bels. Young Harry Tough has also got a knock,’ said Saints coach Leon Meakin.
The immediate future of GFC captain Jamie Dodd is not exactly clear, but the Saints boss hopes he will be back soon.
‘He has been working on that [his new house] so we haven’t seen him yet.
‘I haven’t spoken to him since we came back but I believe he has now moved in. I’d expect him to be back in a couple of weeks.’
Sylvans, unbeaten in 14 league and cup games, travel with a near full squad now that their Under18s have been permitted by SoG Covid regulations to get involved again.
‘The U18s haven’t been training but they will be tonight [Monday] and will be involved tomorrow,’ said relieved coach Martyn de Garis, who has utilised several youngsters this term, most notably key defender Oscar Leadbeater and forward Simon Arnold.
Now the youngsters are back Sylvans’ only notable absentees are the cup-tied wing-back James Ravenscroft and versatile Harvey Lihou, who played for Rovers and Saints respectively in an earlier round.
The two sides have met twice previously this season, both in the league, and each one ended in stalemate.
Like tomorrow’s second semi-final between Rovers and Northerners at Blanche Pierre Lane, the game kicks off at 7.30pm.
