Post by Jamie Crawford on Aug 29, 2017 11:49:05 GMT
St. Peter - now Stade Santander International (see link below), Jersey Sat 2nd Sep, 2017 - 02:30pm
Our season opener for the 2017/18 season has taken the Knights as far away as they can travel in the Championship, across most of the Channel to face Jersey Reds. The Knight’s opening pre-season game was on the neighbouring island of Guernsey, so a similar trip has already been experienced, hopefully the Knights will return victorious once more.
Wikipedia reckons that the Reds player movements were:
“Players Out
England Heath Stevens to England Coventry
South Africa Simon Kerrod to England Worcester Warriors
England Pierce Phillips to England Worcester Warriors
Ireland Sean McCarthy to England Bedford Blues
England James Freeman to England Exeter Chiefs
Scotland Gary Graham to England Newcastle Falcons
Australia Nick Haining to England Bristol Rugby
England Mark Tampin to England Ealing Trailfinders
Wales Lewis Robling to England Ealing Trailfinders
England Richard Lane to England Bedford Blues
England Sam Katz to France RC Massy
England Joe Buckle released
Scotland Nick Campbell released
Scotland Jack Cuthbert released
Tonga Samisoni Fisilau released
Ireland James McKinney released
England Nick Scott released
England Mark Tampin released
England George Watkins released
Players In
South Africa Ayron Schamm from South Africa Sharks
Ireland Conor Joyce from Ireland Ulster
England Seb Nagle-Taylor from England Ealing Trailfinders
South Africa Jared Saunders from England Saracens
Fiji Lee Roy Atalifo from New Zealand Canterbury
England Alec Carey from England Bristol Rugby
England Jordan Brodley from England Bristol University RFC
South Africa Roy Godfrey from England Wimbledon RFC
Tonga Apakuki Ma'afu from Australia NSW Country Eagles
England Matt Rogerson from England Sale Sharks
Ireland Mark Best from Ireland Ulster
Wales Rory Bartle from England London Scottish
England Oliver Bryant from England Leicester Tigers
Wales Josh Hodson from Wales Llandovery RFC
Australia Tom Pincus from Australia Queensland Country
South Africa Jason Worrall from South Africa Western Province” (Wikipedia)
“Five players have been added to those already announced; Irish wing/full-back Ross Adair has returned to the Island, and there are four new faces: lock Jerry Sexton, number 8 Rory Pitman, scrum-half Tim Duchesne and utility back Scott van Breda.” (http://www.jerseyreds.je)
Adair played for the Reds then had a year playing in Belfast, now he returns. Sexton from London Irish (you might have heard of his brother Jonny!) Pitman from London Wasps. Duchesne ex- Northampton Saints then Darlington Mowden Park. Van Breda from South Africa
“”Lock Tom Quarrie English, moved to New Zealand at five, played there then England (Birmingham Solihull Bees in 2011/12), then in Spain and France, latterly Stade Niçois.
Centre Ellis Abrahams, Australian born and moved to England in 2016 playing for Hartpury and Gloucester United
The duo brings the Reds' confirmed squad to 34 players, 20 forwards and 14 backs:
Prop: Jake Armstrong, LeeRoy Atalifo, Jordan Brodley, Alec Clarey, Roy Godfrey, Jake Woolmore
Hooker: Jack Macfarlane, Jared Sauders, Nick Selway
Lock: Uili Kolo'ofa'i, Dave McKern, Tom Quarrie, Jerry Sexton, James Voss
Back Row: Max Argyle, Rory Bartle, Conor Joyce, Seb Nagle-Taylor, Rory Pitman, Matt Rogerson
Half-back: Oli Bryant, Brendan Cope, Tim Duchesne, Joel Dudley, Kieran Hardy
Centre: Ellis Abrahams, Mark Best, George Eastwell, 'Apakuki Ma'afu
Wing/Full-back: Ross Adair, Josh Hodson, Tom Pincus, Scott van Breda, Jason Worrall”” (http://www.jerseyreds.je)
Dougie outlined in his talk to Michael Casey on the website that the Knights learned more about the intensity, pace, power and physicality that is required in the Premiership. As strength and conditioning coach Dougie has looked to a slower build-up of intensity with the aim of preventing injuries from high intensity training immediately after a six-week break. The Knights didn’t struggle with fitness against any team last season and were (probably) always the fittest on the field. That is something that Dougie wants to improve upon with the aim being this greater intensity, pace, power sand physicality.
The Star commented on the home game against the Falcons and said “…Knights scored some excellent tries, particularly in the first half but director of rugby Clive Griffiths was right to be concerned about some aspects of their defence. With shirts up for grabs ahead of Saturday’s opening Championship clash against Jersey everyone was keen to impress Griffiths who faces an unenviable task this week when it comes to picking his first team of the season…” As the Lottery TV advert says, nicer problems to have. At least we’re not starting the seasoned decimated by injuries.
August saw three pre-season matches for the Reds: away to RC Vannes on August 5th, at home to Coventry a week later, and then in London against Harlequins on August 19th.
On 12th August the Reds played their only home pre-season friendly against Coventry RFC, the new home for Latu Makaafi in National One.
Results were
RC Vannes 38-14 Jersey Reds
Jersey Reds 26-17 Coventry
Harlequins 47-21 Jersey Reds
This game serves as a good barometer for both the Knights and the Reds to bookend each other’s season as the teams ended last season with equal league points and so a very similar standard. The Knights finished above the Reds due a game we won that the Reds lost, they scored four more bonus points to bring them level. We scored 49 more points (2.3/game) and conceded 33 fewer (1.6/game), so similar figures.
Our pre-season games were an eclectic mix to enable the Knights’ new squad to try out new moves, learn each other’s style of play and test out their defence. It was great to finish with a win on our new home turf. It’s now time to start the season the way that we intend to continue it.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
Our season opener for the 2017/18 season has taken the Knights as far away as they can travel in the Championship, across most of the Channel to face Jersey Reds. The Knight’s opening pre-season game was on the neighbouring island of Guernsey, so a similar trip has already been experienced, hopefully the Knights will return victorious once more.
Wikipedia reckons that the Reds player movements were:
“Players Out
England Heath Stevens to England Coventry
South Africa Simon Kerrod to England Worcester Warriors
England Pierce Phillips to England Worcester Warriors
Ireland Sean McCarthy to England Bedford Blues
England James Freeman to England Exeter Chiefs
Scotland Gary Graham to England Newcastle Falcons
Australia Nick Haining to England Bristol Rugby
England Mark Tampin to England Ealing Trailfinders
Wales Lewis Robling to England Ealing Trailfinders
England Richard Lane to England Bedford Blues
England Sam Katz to France RC Massy
England Joe Buckle released
Scotland Nick Campbell released
Scotland Jack Cuthbert released
Tonga Samisoni Fisilau released
Ireland James McKinney released
England Nick Scott released
England Mark Tampin released
England George Watkins released
Players In
South Africa Ayron Schamm from South Africa Sharks
Ireland Conor Joyce from Ireland Ulster
England Seb Nagle-Taylor from England Ealing Trailfinders
South Africa Jared Saunders from England Saracens
Fiji Lee Roy Atalifo from New Zealand Canterbury
England Alec Carey from England Bristol Rugby
England Jordan Brodley from England Bristol University RFC
South Africa Roy Godfrey from England Wimbledon RFC
Tonga Apakuki Ma'afu from Australia NSW Country Eagles
England Matt Rogerson from England Sale Sharks
Ireland Mark Best from Ireland Ulster
Wales Rory Bartle from England London Scottish
England Oliver Bryant from England Leicester Tigers
Wales Josh Hodson from Wales Llandovery RFC
Australia Tom Pincus from Australia Queensland Country
South Africa Jason Worrall from South Africa Western Province” (Wikipedia)
“Five players have been added to those already announced; Irish wing/full-back Ross Adair has returned to the Island, and there are four new faces: lock Jerry Sexton, number 8 Rory Pitman, scrum-half Tim Duchesne and utility back Scott van Breda.” (http://www.jerseyreds.je)
Adair played for the Reds then had a year playing in Belfast, now he returns. Sexton from London Irish (you might have heard of his brother Jonny!) Pitman from London Wasps. Duchesne ex- Northampton Saints then Darlington Mowden Park. Van Breda from South Africa
“”Lock Tom Quarrie English, moved to New Zealand at five, played there then England (Birmingham Solihull Bees in 2011/12), then in Spain and France, latterly Stade Niçois.
Centre Ellis Abrahams, Australian born and moved to England in 2016 playing for Hartpury and Gloucester United
The duo brings the Reds' confirmed squad to 34 players, 20 forwards and 14 backs:
Prop: Jake Armstrong, LeeRoy Atalifo, Jordan Brodley, Alec Clarey, Roy Godfrey, Jake Woolmore
Hooker: Jack Macfarlane, Jared Sauders, Nick Selway
Lock: Uili Kolo'ofa'i, Dave McKern, Tom Quarrie, Jerry Sexton, James Voss
Back Row: Max Argyle, Rory Bartle, Conor Joyce, Seb Nagle-Taylor, Rory Pitman, Matt Rogerson
Half-back: Oli Bryant, Brendan Cope, Tim Duchesne, Joel Dudley, Kieran Hardy
Centre: Ellis Abrahams, Mark Best, George Eastwell, 'Apakuki Ma'afu
Wing/Full-back: Ross Adair, Josh Hodson, Tom Pincus, Scott van Breda, Jason Worrall”” (http://www.jerseyreds.je)
Dougie outlined in his talk to Michael Casey on the website that the Knights learned more about the intensity, pace, power and physicality that is required in the Premiership. As strength and conditioning coach Dougie has looked to a slower build-up of intensity with the aim of preventing injuries from high intensity training immediately after a six-week break. The Knights didn’t struggle with fitness against any team last season and were (probably) always the fittest on the field. That is something that Dougie wants to improve upon with the aim being this greater intensity, pace, power sand physicality.
The Star commented on the home game against the Falcons and said “…Knights scored some excellent tries, particularly in the first half but director of rugby Clive Griffiths was right to be concerned about some aspects of their defence. With shirts up for grabs ahead of Saturday’s opening Championship clash against Jersey everyone was keen to impress Griffiths who faces an unenviable task this week when it comes to picking his first team of the season…” As the Lottery TV advert says, nicer problems to have. At least we’re not starting the seasoned decimated by injuries.
August saw three pre-season matches for the Reds: away to RC Vannes on August 5th, at home to Coventry a week later, and then in London against Harlequins on August 19th.
On 12th August the Reds played their only home pre-season friendly against Coventry RFC, the new home for Latu Makaafi in National One.
Results were
RC Vannes 38-14 Jersey Reds
Jersey Reds 26-17 Coventry
Harlequins 47-21 Jersey Reds
This game serves as a good barometer for both the Knights and the Reds to bookend each other’s season as the teams ended last season with equal league points and so a very similar standard. The Knights finished above the Reds due a game we won that the Reds lost, they scored four more bonus points to bring them level. We scored 49 more points (2.3/game) and conceded 33 fewer (1.6/game), so similar figures.
Our pre-season games were an eclectic mix to enable the Knights’ new squad to try out new moves, learn each other’s style of play and test out their defence. It was great to finish with a win on our new home turf. It’s now time to start the season the way that we intend to continue it.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
Looked almost as bad as England's grey from a few years ago. Why change ? Navy blue doesn't look much Jersey Red surely ?