The latest episode of The Warm Up podcast is out now, with sports reporters Archie Corbett and Elliot Corbel back on the mic to preview another defining weekend of Island sport.
The Bailiwick Sports Podcast series continues to build momentum, with The Warm Up landing every Friday to set the agenda for the days ahead, before The Cool Down returns on Tuesday to unpack the results, talking points and moments that mattered most.
This week’s episode is headlined by a monumental fixture for Jersey Bulls, who travel to face AFC Whyteleafe in a 1.30pm kick-off at Church Road. With just one point separating the sides in fourth and fifth place, and both currently occupying play-off positions, it is a crucial clash in the Bulls’ debut season at Step 4 level.
There is no shortage of narrative either. Jersey edged the reverse fixture 1-0 back in October thanks to a first-half strike from Rai Dos Santos, while memories of last season’s title race – in which Whyteleafe were crowned champions following a late points deduction for the Bulls – still linger. Add in the hosts’ formidable home record, with just three defeats at home from 15 matches this season, and the challenge facing Jersey is clear.
Attention then turns to a packed programme of local football, with action across Premiership 1, Premiership 2 and the Championship. Premiership 1 fixtures see Grouville host St Ouen’s, St Clement welcome Madeira to Springfield Stadium, and St Paul’s face Jersey Wanderers at Les Quennevais. There is also cup football on the agenda, with Rozel Rovers taking on St Peter in the JFA Cup ‘Le Riche’ Trophy.
Premiership 2 continues with Trinity meeting Sporting Academics, while St John face Sports Club of Jersey in the Tradesmen’s Trophy. In the Championship, Jersey Wanderers Reserves host St Clement Reserves, and St Peter Reserves take on Grouville Reserves.
The women’s title race is also in focus, with Rozel Rovers Women hosting Jersey Wanderers Women in the Cherry Godfrey Women’s Division on Sunday morning.
Rugby features prominently too, with Jersey RFC travelling away to face CS Stags 1863 as they look to maintain their perfect record. The sides met back in October, with Jersey edging a narrow 19-15 victory – one of the tightest margins in an otherwise dominant campaign so far.
Closer to home, Royals RFC face a stern test as they welcome fourth-placed Ditchling. With just one win from ten so far this season, the Royals will be hoping for a vastly improved showing after suffering a heavy defeat earlier in the campaign.
The episode also looks ahead to a big weekend for hockey at Les Quennevais, where Jersey Men’s 1s are chasing a rare place in the England Hockey Tier 2 Trophy semi-finals.
They host Woking in a quarter-final clash on Sunday lunchtime, having already overcome Epsom in the previous round. Despite missing a couple of key players, confidence remains high given Jersey’s strong recent record against their opponents.
The Jersey Ladies 1s are also in national cup action, taking on Guildford 3s in the Women’s Tier 2 Trophy as another important weekend unfolds for Island hockey.
To round things off, Elliot and Archie run through their Fixture Forecast predictions for the weekend, with bragging rights – and season-long consequences – still very much on the line.
Elliot’s Predictions:
- Jersey Bulls 1-1 AFC Whyteleafe
- Grouville First vs St Ouen’s First
- St Clement First vs Madeira
- St Paul’s First vs Jersey Wanderers First
- Rozel Rovers First vs St Peter First
- Trinity First vs Sporting Academics First
- Jersey Wanderers Reserves vs St Clement Reserves
- St Peter Reserves vs Grouville Reserves
- Rozel Rovers Women vs Jersey Wanderers Women
Archie’s Predictions:
- Jersey Bulls 1-0 AFC Whyteleafe
- Grouville First vs St Ouen’s First
- St Clement First vs Madeira
- St Paul’s First vs Jersey Wanderers First
- Rozel Rovers First vs St Peter First
- Trinity First vs Sporting Academics First
- Jersey Wanderers Reserves vs St Clement Reserves
- St Peter Reserves vs Grouville Reserves
- Rozel Rovers Women vs Jersey Wanderers Women
The Warm Up is available at 1pm every Friday. Press play, get up to speed, and get ready for another big weekend of Island sport.