Campbell, Rutledge and new ‘Raider’ give Vikings a boost
FORMER Siam Cup skipper Blair Campbell has been named on the bench as St Jacques Vikings face Midhurst for the second time this month today, this time on home pastures at the KGV.
And, even more intriguingly, the unbeaten Vikings give a debut to a potential new Raider from the Antipodes, Save Tuimatanisaqa, and welcome back another Guernsey first-teamer, scrum-half Dale Rutledge.
The black and yellows took the honours 34-12 away three weeks ago and will be hoping that they can win once again to keep their march towards the Sussex League title on course.
They will also be hoping that they can produce a strong performance in front of their home supporters, something they have as yet not achieved this season.
Midhurst have been one of the form teams in the league this season, and last year took the Vikings exceptionally close in this fixture on a wet and windy night at Footes Lane, before the Vikings eventually prevailed 8-7 winners.
Ray Smart will want to ensure there is no such repeat this week and he knows his team must win the battle up front early on.
The Vikings’ cause could be helped as they have been able to name a very strong squad which again includes Daley Aremu once again, who did well last week, and on the bench, Campbell.
The former Guernsey Raiders skipper will certainly make his Vikings debut this weekend after recovering from injury. They will also be joined by big No. 8 Tuimatanisaqa, who is a potential new recruit for the Raiders, and he will get some game-time with the Vikings this week.
James Regnard will captain the side as Leon Gardner misses out through injury, meaning James Mroch keeps the hooker jersey from last week.
He is joined by Alan Myers and Guernsey Vet Dave McGall who has been drafted in to provide front row support this week, with both Nico Ashplant and Barney Paul unavailable.
Mitch Smith joins his brother Jacob in the second row after being rested last week, whilst in the back-row Alex Lock joins Regnard and Tuimatanisaqa.
Rutledge makes his return to rugby locally after returning to the island recently. He starts at scrum-half partnering Matt Lomas.
The return of Rutledge has allowed Lucas Barker to shift back to inside centre and he will be joined by Callum Gladstone.
On the wings Aremu joins Guernsey Colt Phil Le Noury, while David Haimes comes in for Tom Teasdale at full-back.
Kick-off is 1.30pm.
Team: A. Myers, J. Mroch, D. McGall, M. Smith, J. Smith, J. Regnard, A. Lock, S. Tuimatanisaqa, D. Rutledge, M. Lomas, D Aremu, L. Barker, C. Gladstone, P. Le Noury, D. Haimes.
Replacements: T. Bray, B. Webb, T. Ritchie-Bandy, C. Croft, B. Campbell, C. Cahill, J. Le Roux.
