Consistency is key for Raiders
RAIDERS are riding high in National Two East – but are determined to stay grounded.
The dramatic last-gasp win over Barnes a week ago was Guernsey’s fifth bonus-point win in six games, with their only defeat coming in a similar manner away to league leaders Tonbridge Juddians, and they head to Old Albanian tomorrow second in the table.
Murmurings of a potential promotion push are premature, though, according to director of rugby Jordan Reynolds.
‘That’s been the chat externally, but internally we’re not getting ahead of ourselves,’ he said.
‘Our aim from the start has been top six and to be in the top six at the end of the season, I think we probably need to be in the top four with half-a-dozen games to go and there is still a lot of rugby to be played.
‘We will have a better idea come Christmas time [if they want to re-evaluate their target].’
The hero of last week’s 35-31 victory, Jack Colbourne, gets a start tomorrow as he comes in on the wing with Anthony Armstrong switching to fullback and Callum Roberts dropping to the bench.
‘With Jack, he has been unfortunate in that, firstly, he is up against quality and well-established players for Raiders in the back three,’ Reynolds said.
‘Also, he had a shot at a start away at TJs but he picked up a knee injury after only 10 minutes, but in those 10 minutes that he was on the park, he made big inroads for us.’
As for the opposition, Raiders must be ready for a contrasting threat to that which they overcame a week ago.
‘OAs are completely different in attacking style to Barnes. They are more similar to TJs where they look to attack from deep and attack out wide.
‘The good thing is we had a good run against TJs just a couple of weeks ago and that was a good day defensively.
‘Our biggest gripe this season is we feel we have let in some unnecessary tries – three against Barnes could have been avoided – but there is still work for us to do and I’d say we were about 85% of the way there now.
‘It is just about getting that consistency.’
Guernsey Raiders team
Dromantas, Burger, Currie, Hillier, Hackett, Creber, Rice, Poullet, Boyland, Simmonds, Smith, N McGann, C McGann, Colbourne, Armstrong. Replacements: Ceillam, Steventon, Welch, Dawe, Roberts.
