Guernsey Press

Rested Raiders are all set for a big night out

‘RARING to go’ is the Guernsey coach’s verdict on the big-name Raiders he rested last week.

Published
Re-energised: Flanker Doug Horrocks returns to the Raiders team tomorrow having been rested last week. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 22605813)

As expected, Jordan Reynolds has made eight changes to the side who lost at National Two South leaders Rams, with several regulars back for tomorrow night’s clash with the Birmingham & Solihull Bees having been given a week off.

‘It was good to see them in training this week – you wouldn’t think the likes of Doug Horrocks and Tom Ceillam had played in a year, such was their keenness out there,’ Reynolds said.

‘There are different ways of looking at it and I know some people think you should put out the best side possible each and every week, but I think if you can take the opportunity to give guys a rest and re-energise them, it’s worth it.

‘We still have 24 games left this season if you include the Siam and there is only one bye week in the first 16 – it’s brutal on the players and you could see the fatigue in them after the Clifton game.’

Ceillam and Horrocks are just two of the rested returnees, who also include captain Lewis Hillier and Matt Thomas.

Jason Batiste and Luke Sayer, who were unavailable for the trip to Rams, also return, along with Owen Clemett.

Elia Morisio has been named as Clemett’s half-back partner, although he has to pass a fitness test before taking to the field.

There is also a first appearance of the season for Cameron Craine, who is among the replacements having completed his rehabilitation from an ankle operation in the summer.

‘I want to get Crainey on to get him some game time and also to give Sam [Steventon] some rest period because he has been working hard every game so far,’ Reynolds said.

Malcolm Barnes, though, is now away for the next two games.

  • Raiders v. Birmingham & Solihull kicks off at 7.30pm tomorrow at Footes Lane.

Guernsey Raiders team

Steventon, Ceillam, L. Batiste, Hillier, Merrien, Horrocks, Rice, Thomas, Clemett, Morisio, Sayer, J. Batiste, Ahne, Martin, Gow. Replacements: Anderson, Baron, Craine, Greenhalgh, Bolton.