Guernsey Raiders v Dorking - Saturday 13 September, 2pm (Footes Lane)
Dorking are the visitors to Footes Lane and with strong winds and rain showers in the weather forecast, combined with the unavailability of several backs, Guernsey have opted for a forward-dominated bench as they look for their first win of their National Two East campaign following their narrow 26-24 opening day defeat at Henley.
‘We are a little bit light on backs this week, but we have got some forwards who can move into the backline and with the wind and rain that is forecast, it is probably going to be pretty attritional up front so we want to keep the power on, especially in the set-piece,’ said Guernsey director of rugby Jordan Reynolds.
‘Having a whole front row change to bring on will make a big difference for us and we are hoping it will give us the edge. Sometimes you have to think outside the box with these things against a strong side like Dorking.
‘The core of our players are used to these winds – you can’t play for Guernsey without playing in these winds – and we have been training in those conditions this week, so our prep work is going to be there.
‘The big thing for us is that we are going to have to put that work-rate in on the day. We have got to outwork Dorking. If we do not do that we are going to be second best.
‘At stages against Henley we were second best, but at other times we were right on top of it and we need to be at those levels.’
He added that new additions to the squad this season, such as Joe Wrafter, Michael Cantle and Charlie Wilkinson, have enabled the management team to adapt their game-plan to suit specific needs.
‘There has been a bit of a shift in our game as our power game is a little bit more prominent, and in strong winds the ball is going to have more movement in it, so making these selections allows us to tighten things up.’
Raiders will start with the same forward pack who played at Henley while prop Sam Steventon comes onto the bench having been unavailable for the Hawks match.
In the backs, Sam Boyland comes in at scrum-half for Dale Rutledge, who is playing for Guernsey in the golf inter-insular at Grouville, while Matt Armstrong, who missed the Henley game due to his brother Anthony’s wedding, replaces the injured Niall McGann.
Dorking finished as runners-up in National Two East last season and started this campaign with a 17-10 win over London Welsh. When they last visited Footes Lane in March, they edged a tight match 31-29.
Raiders against Dorking kicks off at 2pm tomorrow at Footes Lane.
Raiders team
Joe Wrafter, Michael Cantle, Martinas Dromantas, Felix Godet, Charlie Wilkinson, Matt Creber, Dom Rice, Josh Poullet, Sam Boyland, Charlie Simmonds, Phoenix Mahy, Ethan Smith, Ciaran McGann, Matt Armstrong, Charlie Davies.
Replacements: Sam Steventon, Phil Le Noury, Tom Bray, Brad Webb, Liam Welch.
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