While Raiders secured their National Two status for next season a fortnight ago, their visitors are still fighting for their Level 4 lives going into this weekend’s last round of fixtures and currently occupy the relegation play-off place.
However, a run of five wins from their last seven fixtures has given them a realistic chance of climbing out of that position as they sit just one point below Esher and three off London Welsh, so they have everything to play for at Footes Lane.
‘It’s worked out exactly how we wanted it. The last thing we needed was a dead rubber – we need a really big game,’ said Guernsey director of rugby Jordan Reynolds.
‘Henley have the opportunity to get themselves out of the relegation play-off spot and all the games for those clubs involved in that are reasonably tough, so they have all got a chance.
‘It is always difficult for sides to come here and turn us over, but if you look at Henley’s form at the moment, it shows that the desperation and passion is there to get themselves out of danger, so it is going to make it a really tough contest.’
Guernsey’s National League status might be guaranteed, but there is still the small matter of the Siam Cup next month and Reynolds revealed that ‘a lot of positions are up for grabs’ and each player needs to put his hand up to make the that team.
‘Performances are key for us,’ said the head coach.
‘On the positive side, compared to previous seasons, there is a lot of selection debate to be had and we are being pretty cut-throat with it because we have to find form heading into the Siam.
‘If we can combine the positives from our last two performances, we can get a really big one this week, but Henley are going to be coming here with a huge amount of enthusiasm and we have to match that if not more.’
Guernsey Raiders against Henley kicks off at 3pm tomorrow at Footes Lane and is the second part of a senior double-header with Guernsey Raiders Ladies facing East Grinstead at 1pm.
The U14s kick off the Garenne Stand action with a match against their Henley counterparts at 11.30am.
RAIDERS TEAM
Wrafter, Ceillam, Currie, Hillier, Wilkinson, Webb, Rice, Poullet, Rutledge, Simmonds, Roberts, Dawe, C McGann, A Armstrong, Teasdale. Replacements: Selway, Dromantas, Steventon, Cantle, N McGann.
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