SELECTION HEADACHES OF THE POSITIVE KIND
UNSURPRISING, given the importance of the game, Jordan Reynolds has dithered over final selection for what many consider to be the biggest game seen this season at Footes Lane.
Tring await on Saturday afternoon (2pm kick off) and while the head coach would normally be happy to name his match-day squad 48 hours out, not this time.
He wants to get it right and complicating matters are a fully fit and healthy squad and only 18 berths to fill.
‘Someone of quality is going to miss out,' Reynolds said going into Thursday night’s final training session.
But the following morning he had made his final decision and the unlucky one was Luke Sayer as Sam Whitehead got the nod just ahead of him in the following team:
Steventon, Ceillam, Batiste, Hillier (c), Merrien, Hill, Le Cocq, Horrocks; Barnes, Thomas, Armstrong, Campbell, Brown, Jones and Whitehead.
Bench: Craine, Martin and K. Brown.
Blair Campbell had been a doubt with illness earlier in the week but the former captain and centre is now recovered, as is Whitehead after missing the Westcombe Park win.
Victory could heap significant rewards, even if it means remaining second in the table for another week.
Raiders have already beaten table-toppers Hertford at home, Westcliff and Barnes away.
They desperately want the other big scalp in an intriguing promotion race.
In terms of playing level and league position, it is arguable whether there has ever been a more important home game for the Raiders, but Reynolds sees it simply as one of many 'big games' and the league won't be won and lost tomorrow.
'It's a big fixture, being home and that, for sure.
'Yes, it's big but Barnes next time around at home will be even bigger.'
The ever-growing home crowd will be vital, insists the coach.
'From every game since the Hertford one the crowd has grown and grown and a lot of people that were disengaged from sport have come along, and a lot from the football crowd have started coming down.
'For that reason, it's important we keep producing and it certainly gives us that little bit extra which we are going to need, for sure, this weekend.'
With Hertford away at fifth-placed Westcliff tomorrow, the potential is there for Raiders to capitalise on any slip by the leaders and go top again.
Defeat at home to Tring, though, could see Reynolds' men slip back to third or fourth by Saturday tea-time.
'If we win, it keeps us right in the hunt at Christmas which is where we wanted to be.'
'They've got a well-drilled forward pack which has excited our big guys.
'They've also got a very good 10 and he's someone we need to keep our eye on.'
Kick off at 2pm, Footes Lane
LADIES WELCOME RANG BACK
STILL no Championship 2SW win for the Guernsey Ladies, but with every game there are clear signs of improvement.
For the trip to fourth-placed Guildford Gazelles on Sunday coach Chris Griffiths welcomes back Vicki Rang and is able to select a strong squad.
‘The starting pack is totally unchanged from last Saturday which bodes well as we were once again very dominant in the scrums and the line out catch and drives in particular were a good weapon that we can hopefully utilise again with some success on Sunday,’ he said.
‘I also thought Kristine Vavere and Rachel Merrien both carried really well against Cullompton and Ellie Whittles tackled her heart out as always and if they along with the rest of the pack can put in the same kind of shift this Sunday I think we look solid up front.
‘Hopefully from a strong forward platform we can set off what is arguably the most exciting looking back line we have had all season.
‘Although we will miss Chelsie Blondel we have Vicki Rang returning and by leaving Fiona Power at 15 we can try her out this weekend at 13 with Fiona Ashworth moving in to 12 which gives us a really fast centre partnership.
‘This will also allow us to play Hannah Guilbert on the wing which provides us with pace and power along with a lot more experience in the wide channels, and when we moved her there from centre last Saturday I thought she did really well and made a big difference in attack and crucially in defence.’
Starting XV
1. Andrea Harris
2. Sophie O'Connell
3. Janelly Le Maitre
4. Rebecca Drury
5. Kristine Vavere
6. Michelle Schofield
7. Ellie Whittles
8. Rachel Merrien
9. Jemma Crouse (C)
10. Justeen Baker
11. Hannah Guilbert
12. Fiona Ashworth
13. Vicki Rang
14. Lael Hollingworth
15. Fiona Power
Replacements
16. Michaela Rabey
17. Fiona Drape
18. Sophie Ferbrache
19. Rebekah Fant