Dan’s the man for Raiders as Teasdale's ruled out
One set of siblings joins another in the Raiders starting XV for tomorrow’s first home game of the National Two East season.
Dan Rice, who was unavailable last week, comes in at fly-half, replacing the injured Tom Teasdale, to join brother Dom in the team, which again features the two McGanns – Niall and Ciaran – in the centres.
‘Dan was performing well in pre-season and having a regular kicker both out of hand and from the tee, that’s a big plus for us,’ said Guernsey's director of rugby Jordan Reynolds, ahead of the big clash with Sevenoaks.
In the pack, Tom Ceillam returns at hooker with James Burger, scorer of two tries last week, among the replacements along with prop Sam Steventon, who is in a match-day squad for the first time this season.
‘Everyone on that bench will be looking to get on and make a difference for us. We feel we have a strong 20,' said Reynolds, who pointed to the influence Liam Welch had against Henley Hawks as an example.
Listen to an extended chat with Jordan Reynolds and Raiders chair Andrea Harris on this week's Guernsey Press Sport Podcast
‘Liam came off the bench and made an impact last week. He has got a lot of speed for a back-row, too, and it is going to be a day for running rugby.
‘Sevenoaks are a gritty side who, from the footage we’ve seen, will be similar to what we played against last season but look like they have made a couple of additions, too.
‘We scored five tries to their three but drew with them at home and then lost away.
‘They won at the death last week, so we know they will play for 80 minutes.
‘Last week we played really well for 40 minutes, this week we have to go for the full 80.’
Raiders v Sevenoaks kicks off at 2pm tomorrow.
Raiders team
Pinkney, Ceillam, Currie, Hillier, Webb, Creber, Dom Rice, Culverhouse, Simmonds, Dan Rice, Smith, N McGann, C McGann, Boyland, Roberts. Replacements: Burger, Steventon, Welch, Rutledge, Bailey.
