Jersey Reds are looking to start 2017 with a bang when the club hosts a league fixture on New Year's Day for the very first time.
Old rivals Ealing Trailfinders are the visitors for the crunch Greene King IPA Championship fixture at St Peter. Sunday's match kicks off at 2pm, and the home club have arranged bus transport to make sure supporters are able to get to the game.
With no public bus service on New Year's Day, there will shuttle buses operating from St Helier to St Peter at regular intervals both before and after the game. There's also the chance to enjoy a buffet lunch upstairs in the comfort of the Clubhouse.
"We're excited about staging a festive fixture on our home patch, and hope that we'll get the same reaction from our supporters as Bedford did with their record crowd on Boxing Day," said Mark Morgan. "We know that the lack of buses will make it difficult for some supporters, especially those worried about driving the morning after, so the transport provided will help everyone make it to the match, including those who are wanting to join us for the Clubhouse lunch."
Arrangements for the buses are as follows:
Pre-match
The first bus will leave Liberation Station at 11.30am. Subsequent services will run at 11.50, 12.10, 12.30, 12.50, 1.10 and 1.30. There will be an option to be picked up at La Haule. The single fare of £2 per person (sorry, no concessions) will be collected on arrival at St Peter - please have the correct change if possible.
Post-match
Buses will run on demand back to St Helier at regular intervals between the end of the game (around 3.45pm) and 6.15pm. There will be an option to be dropped off at La Haule. The single fare of £2 per person (sorry, no concessions) will be collected prior to departure from St Peter.
Lunch
The buffet lunch in the Clubhouse costs £15 per person with a choice of curry dishes or lasagne - just the ticket after a New Year's Eve night out. Places can be booked via Club Manager Sean Dunne. Places are limited, but in any event the final deadline for booking will be 11am on Saturday December 31st.
Match preview
The Reds are currently just four points behind third-placed Ealing and will be seeking to avenge a last-gasp defeat at Vallis Way in September. The visitors are likely to select two former Jersey players in their squad - Cornish fly-half Aaron Penberthy and Argentine prop Nacho Lancuba.
Jersey's Boxing Day visit to Goldington Road attracted a record Championship crowd of 4,621 for host club Bedford Blues. The Reds fought out a thrilling encounter and looked set for a notable victory, only to be denied by a last-gasp try and conversion that left the Blues the victors by 39-37.
Jersey's squad for the match will be confirmed on this site on Friday morning.
