Post by Jamie Crawford on Jul 31, 2017 16:43:59 GMT
Our very first game with the new-look Knights sees us play Guernsey Raiders after their pre-season training camp on the island. Francis Cummins sounds very optimistic about the Knights’ progress through training and how well the boys are gelling but as he says, they need game time, so bring on the Raiders.
“Guernsey Rugby Football Club is an amateur rugby union team who play at Footes Lane in St Peter Port on the Channel Island of Guernsey. The club runs two senior teams, a veterans side and a colts side. Their first XV, the Guernsey Raiders currently play in Level 5 (London & South East Premier). The club was formed in 1928. The Guernsey Raiders Ladies team plays in Level 4, Women's National Challenge South East South 1.” (Wikipedia)
Guernsey Raiders finished fifth in National League 3 London & SE with 15 wins and eleven losses. More importantly as we’re playing them in Guernsey; the Raiders won ten and only lost three home games. Third-placed Hertford recorded ten home wins last season the same as fifth-placed Guernsey so Guernsey’s away form needs some work (5W, 8L). The Raiders finished sixth the previous season and fifth in 2013/14. They have finished in the top half of the table since they were promoted from London South in 2012/13 (apart from tenth in 2014/15). Although three divisions below the Knights, home advantage is paramount in Guernsey. The Raiders earned the third highest number of try bonus points and recorded the third highest number of points scored, so it promises to be a game that tests the Knights’ defence.
National League 3 London & SE used to be known as London 1 until 2009. It is one of four leagues at that level, with its counterparts being National League 3 South West, National League 3 Midlands and National League 3 North.
“Guernsey annually play Jersey Reds in the inter-insular Siam Cup, the second oldest rugby honour contested after the Calcutta Cup. The host venue alternates yearly between Footes Lane and Jersey's St. Peter… Since Jersey began employing professional players they have dominated the inter island game. From 2016 in an attempt to even up the game only professional players who had been in Jersey for three years will be eligible for the annual match.” (Wikipedia)
More recently (May 2017), the Raiders narrowly lost out [20-18] to Jersey Reds.
Following the Knights’ four days of rugby training in their pre-season rugby camp in Steve Lloyd’s stomping ground they face Guernsey Raiders in their first of four pre-season games. Griff opted for four pre-season games as opposed to the three they played last pre-season as he wants to start the campaign firing on all cylinders or perhaps a more appropriate metaphor for the Knights is for the Knights’ crossbows shooting straight and true. This initial game should ease the Knights into playing as a team and permit them to try different moves in anticipation of more difficult opposition ahead. On paper this should be a unruffled start for the Knights as they look to build up performance to peak after their fourth pre-season game ready to leave the Jersey Reds red-faced after a defeat on their home turf. Guernsey Raiders will have other ideas and will want to take the scalp of a team three divisions above them to start their season on a massive high.
A potential danger man to look out for is Luke Jones who returned to Guernsey after leaving the Cornish Pirates. The former England Under-18 international had a spell with Leicester Tigers before an injury-hit three seasons. Jones joined the Raiders at the beginning of last season and the plan was for him to be a utility back.
Another potential danger man to look out for is Samsung Try of the Month winner for March 2017 Malcolm Barnes. “Scrum-half Malcolm Barnes finished off the impressive team try for the Channel Island side, who currently play in National Three London and South East…"Our Director of Rugby Jordan Reynolds is an Aussie and always encourages us to play running rugby and that obviously paid off for this try," said Barnes. “ ”
“The Samsung Try of the MonthSamsung Try of the Month competition is open to all levels of rugby below the Greene King IPA Championship, including all ages, men and women, boys and girls, touch, tag or contact rugby.”
(www.englandrugby.com )
The Knights are going to have an open training session at Footes Lane on Thursday 3rd August .
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
“Guernsey Rugby Football Club is an amateur rugby union team who play at Footes Lane in St Peter Port on the Channel Island of Guernsey. The club runs two senior teams, a veterans side and a colts side. Their first XV, the Guernsey Raiders currently play in Level 5 (London & South East Premier). The club was formed in 1928. The Guernsey Raiders Ladies team plays in Level 4, Women's National Challenge South East South 1.” (Wikipedia)
Guernsey Raiders finished fifth in National League 3 London & SE with 15 wins and eleven losses. More importantly as we’re playing them in Guernsey; the Raiders won ten and only lost three home games. Third-placed Hertford recorded ten home wins last season the same as fifth-placed Guernsey so Guernsey’s away form needs some work (5W, 8L). The Raiders finished sixth the previous season and fifth in 2013/14. They have finished in the top half of the table since they were promoted from London South in 2012/13 (apart from tenth in 2014/15). Although three divisions below the Knights, home advantage is paramount in Guernsey. The Raiders earned the third highest number of try bonus points and recorded the third highest number of points scored, so it promises to be a game that tests the Knights’ defence.
National League 3 London & SE used to be known as London 1 until 2009. It is one of four leagues at that level, with its counterparts being National League 3 South West, National League 3 Midlands and National League 3 North.
“Guernsey annually play Jersey Reds in the inter-insular Siam Cup, the second oldest rugby honour contested after the Calcutta Cup. The host venue alternates yearly between Footes Lane and Jersey's St. Peter… Since Jersey began employing professional players they have dominated the inter island game. From 2016 in an attempt to even up the game only professional players who had been in Jersey for three years will be eligible for the annual match.” (Wikipedia)
More recently (May 2017), the Raiders narrowly lost out [20-18] to Jersey Reds.
Following the Knights’ four days of rugby training in their pre-season rugby camp in Steve Lloyd’s stomping ground they face Guernsey Raiders in their first of four pre-season games. Griff opted for four pre-season games as opposed to the three they played last pre-season as he wants to start the campaign firing on all cylinders or perhaps a more appropriate metaphor for the Knights is for the Knights’ crossbows shooting straight and true. This initial game should ease the Knights into playing as a team and permit them to try different moves in anticipation of more difficult opposition ahead. On paper this should be a unruffled start for the Knights as they look to build up performance to peak after their fourth pre-season game ready to leave the Jersey Reds red-faced after a defeat on their home turf. Guernsey Raiders will have other ideas and will want to take the scalp of a team three divisions above them to start their season on a massive high.
A potential danger man to look out for is Luke Jones who returned to Guernsey after leaving the Cornish Pirates. The former England Under-18 international had a spell with Leicester Tigers before an injury-hit three seasons. Jones joined the Raiders at the beginning of last season and the plan was for him to be a utility back.
Another potential danger man to look out for is Samsung Try of the Month winner for March 2017 Malcolm Barnes. “Scrum-half Malcolm Barnes finished off the impressive team try for the Channel Island side, who currently play in National Three London and South East…"Our Director of Rugby Jordan Reynolds is an Aussie and always encourages us to play running rugby and that obviously paid off for this try," said Barnes. “ ”
“The Samsung Try of the MonthSamsung Try of the Month competition is open to all levels of rugby below the Greene King IPA Championship, including all ages, men and women, boys and girls, touch, tag or contact rugby.”
(www.englandrugby.com )
The Knights are going to have an open training session at Footes Lane on Thursday 3rd August .
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
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