Raiders pack members spared the Lions’ den

With the Siam Cup double-header now just around the corner, Raiders are wrapping many of their big guns in cotton wool ahead of the back-to-back matches with Jersey so they will miss tomorrow’s final game of the National Two South season away at Leicester Lions.

‘We are resting a lot of guys, especially in the forward pack where we are a bit thin, because we know that for two weeks of Siam Cup rugby it is not just going to need 20 players, it will take a full 30-man squad,’ said Guernsey director of rugby Reynolds.

‘But there are still some good players in this group, some regulars who need game time like Darrin Bellingham, Dan Morgan, Liam Welch and James Burger.

‘In the backline we are quite blessed with players so the likes of Owen Thomas, Matt Armstrong, Callum Roberts and Joe Andresen are in there to gain some more match fitness.

‘We have talked about what we want to achieve this week and it might not be the result, but we want to be able to look back at this game next week and say there are things we did well and can be proud of.’

Leicester Lions, who were the first club to visit Guernsey once travel restrictions were eased earlier in the season, are a team in form having won their last seven games including a 24-19 success over Redruth last week.

‘It’s going to be a tough ask because the Lions are flying. They beat Redruth who were still in the running for promotion at the time.

‘But it’s the last game of the [league] season, it’s a great opportunity for guys who have been missing out for various reasons and it’s a chance to perhaps play a little bit looser because there is less stress on us than usual.’

Guernsey Raiders team

Darrin Bellingham, Dan Morgan, Tom Bray, Tom Creed, Brad Webb, James Regnard, James Burger, Liam Welch, Dale Rutledge, Owen Thomas, Reece de Jersey, Matt Armstrong, Callum Roberts, Taylor Quate, Joe Andresen. Replacements: Cally Murdoch, Layton Batiste, Mitchell Smith, Dan Rice, Gearoid Lee.