Release amended 5pm Friday - see italicised text in paragraph 7 and amend in bold in squad list
Jersey Reds may have made a strong start to their 2022/23 Championship campaign, but will travel to Nottingham this weekend knowing there is no guarantee that league form carries over into cup competition.
The hosts have also made a decent fist of the first block of Championship fixtures, claiming third spot in the table prior to a round seven defeat by league leaders Ealing Trailfinders at Vallis Way.
With only four clubs proceeding to the knock-out stages of this year’s Championship Cup, both sides will be keen to make a strong start to their pool A fixtures on Sunday, with games against Ealing and Hartpury to follow later in November.
Having used 35 players during the season so far to reflect the squad’s strength in depth, the Reds are able to adjust their match-day XXIII by bringing in a number of those who have contributed to the seven-match winning streak, which was achieved with a 17-27 win at Hartpury last Saturday.
Eoghan Clarke, joint top-scorer in last season’s Championship, will start at hooker alongside Greg McGrath and Adam Nicol, while Hamish Bain and Sean O’Connor are paired in the engine room. Skipper Lewis Wynne is part of an accomplished back row unit with Max Argyle and James Dun.
Half-back duo Jonny Law and Russell Bennett are paired for the first time, while Brendan Owen returns at full-back and the threequarters offer power and pace in equal measure through centres Dan Barnes and Charlie Powell, plus wingers Tomi Lewis and Ryan Hutler.
The Reds’ coaching team will be looking for an 80-minute effort from their players, with a split of five forwards and three backs waiting to make an impact off the bench. In a late change after training on Friday, Tom Pittman was ruled unfit and replaced by James Mitchell – while normally a scrum-half, Mitchell filled in capably in the number 10 position in the recent game against Cornish Pirates.
The Reds and the Archers are meeting for the first time in a cup match; the two clubs have met 18 times in the Championship, with 12 Jersey wins, five victories for the Green-and-Whites and one draw (when it finished 19-apiece at the Bay in December 2017).
Jersey Reds next home game will be the cup clash with Hartpury at Stade Santander International on Saturday November 12th, kicking off at 2pm.
Jersey Reds squad v Nottingham Rugby (A) – 2022/23 Championship Cup Pool A, game 1/6, Lady Bay Sports Ground, Sunday November 6th, k-o 2pm (late change in bold following injury)
Backs (15-9)
Brendan Owen; Ryan Hutler, Charlie Powell, Dan Barnes, Tomi Lewis; Russell Bennett, Jonny Law.
Forwards (1-8)
Greg McGrath, Eoghan Clarke, Adam Nicol, Hamish Bain, Sean O’Connor, James Dun, Lewis Wynne (capt), Max Argyle.
Replacements (16-23)
TJ Harris, Huw Owen, Monty Weatherby, Tom Everard, Josh Gray; James Elliott, James Mitchell, Will Brown.
