Greens out to spoil the party at Jersey’s HQ

It will be the first time the new Jersey Hockey clubhouse has hosted the senior inter-insulars – two years later than first envisaged due to the pandemic – but the Sarnian men have no intention of giving up the trophy they retained in November’s entertaining 4-4 draw.

‘We should not be going into it fearing anything,’ said Island men’s coach Andy Good.

‘Our league is strong, we have a lot of good players in our team, we just need to do the right things on the day.’

There are four changes to the squad from that which played in November at Footes Lane, but it is a sign of the strength in depth at Good’s disposal that players of the calibre of captain Adie Peacegood, forward Sam Dawes and inter-insular debutants Morgan Clayton and Brad Norman are coming into the side.

Now that Dawes is playing regularly once again for Colombians, Good called his selection a ‘no-brainer’ while the coach added that he is ‘really lucky’ to be able to call upon a goalkeeper of Clayton’s calibre in the absence of the unavailable Jake Le Marchant.

‘It’s pretty well-balanced overall, a good strong side, so we’re looking forward to the game,’ said Good, who is not taking anything for granted against a Jersey side going well in the EH Tier Two Championship knockout.

‘They are all good, technically solid hockey players, they play a solid game, they kind of prey on your mistakes and unfortunately we made too many of those in the last game that they capitalised on.

‘They are strong from short-corners, we know that, so our process is about trying to make sure that we stop their threats coming forward and we provide a good threat going forward ourselves.’

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There was nothing to separate the two women’s side in November either as they fought out a 1-1 draw, but Guernsey will be attempting to regain that trophy.

The Greens have three changes to their squad four months on, with Francesca McLuskey, Harriet Savident and Mia Lloyd-Jones coming into the fold, although the trio were involved in the EH Tier Two Championship game in Havant in January.

‘After a draw in the autumn, it is all to play for in this tie,’ said Guernsey women’s coach Becky Hubbard.

‘We have been working on our structure and performing the simple tasks well. We have been scoring more goals of late and are looking for more of the same in Jersey.

‘I have no doubt that the girls will give it their all and show Jersey what we can do.

‘It is a great squad to be a part of. It will be a tough challenge as always, but that is what makes the inter-insular a great game to play in and to watch.’

This weekend is a return to the full inter-insular schedule for the first time since March 2019 with six games being played tomorrow.

Guernsey first-team squads

Men: Adie Peacegood (c), Morgan Clayton (GK), Tom Still, Alex Bushell, Jonny Clark, Will Thompson, Zak Damarell, Matt Stokes, Ant Stokes, Jack Smart, Sam Dawes, Josh Kendal, Will Dawe, Andy Whalley.

Women: Alex Bevis, Becky McAllister, Caryn Rieger Vorster, Emma Atkinson (GK), Francesca McLuskey, Gemma Underwood, Harriet Savident, Holly Stubbert-Malley, Katherine Bushell, Laura Webber, Lucy Slimm, Lucy Waldrom (c), Mali Smith, Megan Stewart, Mia Lloyd-Jones, Tash Symes.