Reds desperate for Blues boost

Friday 21 October 2016

Havey Biljon's side have lost five games in a row as they head into tonight's British and Irish Cup clash against Cardiff Blues Select at St Peter.

Biljon has retained only eight of the team who started last Friday's cup defeat at Ulster 'A' with injuries ravaging his first team squad.

Biljon's side have crashed to one defeat after another in recent weeks following a promising start to the campaign in which they won their two opening games against Richmond and Bedford. Close losses followed against Ealing, Nottingham and London Welsh, but that was followed by crushing defeats to London Scottish and Ulster.

Biljon said: "We have got to get back to winning ways, it is as simple as that. We have a lot of injuries but we have to get over them and starting winning again. We can't feel sorry for ourselves." 

Alex Rae is dusting off his boots and picking up a playing career that originally finished at the end of last season, soon after he was appointed as Assistant Coach.

In the back-line, Sam Katz will switch from fly-half to full-back, with Jordan Davies and Alex Cuthbert moving to the wing berths. George Eastwell stays in situ at inside centre, with Regan King outside him, while the starting half-backs are Brendan Cope and Sami Fisilau.

The two Jakes, Woolmore and Armstrong, will pack down in the front row either side of hooker Jack Macfarlane. Dave McKern comes in at second row alongside James Voss, and in the back-row Rae will slot in alongside skipper James Freeman and Nick Haining.

Two Welshmen - prop Marc Thomas and scrum-half Kieran Hardy - are on the Reds' bench for the clash against the Blues, alongside Jersey Athletic duo David Felton and Chris Pople, Uili Kolo'ofa'i, Max Argyle and another scrum-half, Joel Dudley.

Jersey Reds squad v Cardiff Blue Premiership Select (H) - British & Irish Cup, Friday October 21st, St Peter; KO 19:45pm

Sam Katz, Jack Cuthbert, Regan King, George Eastwell, Jordan Davies, Brendan Cope, Sami Fisilau, Jake Woolmore, Jack Macfarlane, Jake Armstrong, Dave McKern, James Voss, Alex Rae, James Freeman (capt), Nick Haining. Subs: David Felton, Marc Thomas, Chris Pople, Uili Kolo'ofa'i, Max Argyle; Kieran Hardy, Joel Dudley