St Jacques out to maintain proud home record after being stung by last week’s late loss

Friday 18 October 2024

St Jacques Vikings tend to enjoy the comfort of playing at home.

They are unbeaten in league matches on the island in a run that stretches back to 2022.

Ellingham & Ringwood will be the latest team to try and test that when they clash at the club pitch at Footes Lane tomorrow [Saturday 19 October] at 14:30.

St Jacques Vikings are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of a loss at the death away to Gosport & Fareham last time out. 

Layton Batiste’s side were holding onto a slender lead approaching final whistle, in what had been a closely matched contest, before  the hosts were awarded a penalty try.

It was heartbreaking for the Sarnian side, who have struggled on the road this season.

Batiste said: “The boys stepped up massively against Gosport in terms of defence. That was our best defensive performance that we have put in this season. We got our spacing right and we made our tackles, which is a huge improvement, but I’m gutted for the boys to come out on the wrong side of that result.” 

Looking ahead Batiste said: “Hopefully, as gutting as the result was last weekend, that it can really push us on for the Ellingham & Ringwood game, and we can use it as a marker.

“We need try and win a few away matches before the Christmas break, but it is really important that we keep producing good performances at home, and hopefully keep winning.”

Injuries have forced several regular players to miss out, with both Phil Le Noury and Mitchell Smith being added to the medically induced absence list. They will both miss several weeks. 

Front-rowers Dan De Kock, Corey Wallis and Callum Murdoch are also currently unavailable through injury, but former captain Leon Gardner is able to return. He has been absent for a year following a nasty hamstring injury. He starts at hooker with James Mroch and Tom Bray beside him. 

Owen Thomas is a name that needs little introduction in local rugby circles. The experienced flyhalf has been a stalwart in the Guernsey Raiders side for many years, and is renowned as an excellent playmaker. He will pull on a Vikings shirt for the first time this weekend, as he slots in at full-back. 

Both Tom Creed and Angus MacCallum return to the pack, while Tom Yarwood makes his second start of the season. He was excellent last weekend against Gosport & Fareham. 

Captain Tom Veillard missed last weekend through family commitments, but he is back to steer the ship.. He starts at flyhalf, and joins up with Lucas Barker and Matt Lomas-Lloyd, who pair up in the centres. 

Out wide, Sam Ferry is named on the wing as he partners with Kieran Creber. Marcus Whitfield is once again the scrum-half. 

Kick-off is 14:30 on the club pitch at Footes Lane, after the Guernsey Raiders Ladies tackle Dorking at 12:30. 

All pictures by Murray Palmer.