Rugby: Raiders and Vikings show unity with end of season goals on the line

Friday 05 April 2024

Guernsey Raiders and St Jacques Vikings will show a united front at Footes Lane in a packed day of rugby tomorrow.

Both need wins if they are to achieve their latest targets, for Raiders that is their highest ever league finish and Vikings it is about promotion.

Billed as One Club United, the sides will be wearing their away kit, representing the colours of each club.

“We are very proud of our heritage and to wear our black and yellow colours,” said St Jacques chair Ian Hackerson.

“We are equally proud of our partnership with the Guernsey Raiders, which has blossomed over the recent years and for us to be able to wear green and white for our away kit and for them our colours, it shows the strength of the partnership.” 

Vikings will begin the playing action in front of the Garenne Stand when they play seventh placed Chichester II in Counties 2 Hampshire.

Kick off is at 12:00.

Raiders still have their eyes on their highest ever finish in National 2 East.

They play Old Albanians at 14:30 and will leapfrog them if they win.

When the sides met earlier in the season, Raiders came out 39-26 winners.

Raiders sit currently sit 11th in the league, but just seven points beyond Canterbury who occupy seventh spot.

They will travel to play Bury St Edmunds next week and top side Esher on Saturday 20 April, before their home match against Henley on Saturday 27 April rounds out their league campaign.

Ray Smart’s Vikings side must secure a victory to keep their promotion hopes alive, as they seek to climb to Counties One Hampshire next season. 

Now in the business end of the season, the coach is juggling results but also seeking to give much of his squad game-time ahead of the Fallaize Cup against Jersey Seconds.

Angus MacCallum returns to the side after an injury enforced break. 

He was a star performer in several games at the back-end of 2023, and adds a big attacking threat to the side. 

Several players remain unavailable through injury, including Dan De Kock and Tom Yarwood, whilst Pierre de Garis has also been ruled out. 

Captain Matt Lomas will cover de Garis' absence at scrum half, and partners with Tom Veillard who returns to flyhalf. 

With both Taylor Quate, Joe Le Roux and Lucas Barker all ruled out due to upcoming marathons, Cashel Cahill is back in the centres, alongside Tom Creber. He is currently at university in Cardiff but is home currently and slots into the midfield.

Along with MacCallum in the forwards, influential second row Tom Creed is also named back in the side after missing the last trip to Fordingbridge. James Mroch and Darrin Bellingham also return in the front-row. 

Current star performer Jacob Smith moves back to number 8. 

In the outside backs, Cameron Le Prevost makes his second appearance following his injury return on the wing. Gearoid Lee is at fullback and Kieran Creber on the opposite wing. 

A scheduled development team game for  Vikings XV against Alderney has been postponed after the visitors boat travel was cancelled due to the high winds. A local friendly will still place at 10.30 on the club pitch.