Jersey prepare to challenge Cup holders in Dublin's fair
city
Jersey will be seeking to build on a fine start to this season's
British & Irish Cup when they tackle the winners for the past
two seasons, Leinster 'A' in a Friday night game under the
Donnybrook lights.
The Islanders defeated Carmarthen Quins by 37-17 at St Peter in
the opening round of the B&I last weekend, sealing a maximum
five points thanks to a last-minute interception try.
Leinster 'A' also made a winning start, securing four points
thanks to a 24-31 win at Plymouth Albion, and the winner of
Friday's second round match will have a fine prospect of
challenging for a quarter-final place.
Jersey Head Coach Harvey Biljon has selected a strong squad for
the trip to Dublin, recalling a number of players who featured in
the opening weeks of Jersey's Greene King IPA Championship
campaign.
Jonny Bentley, Drew Locke and Lewis Robling return to the Jersey
back division, while in the forwards the main change is a fresh
back row unit, with Nick Haining, Michael Noone and Ryan Hodson
stepping up - Hodson (pictured below) skippers the side
with regular captain Alex Rae on the bench.
The three Jersey players who made their first competitive
appearances of the season last weekend are rewarded for fine
displays with places in this Friday's line-up: Nick Campbell starts
at lock, while fly-half Aaron Penberthy and flanker Joe Buckle are
among the replacements.
The two sides will be meeting for the third time after
back-to-back B&I meetings in December 2012. The Irish region
claimed a narrow 12-16 victory at St Peter but then claimed a big
win on home soil with a 44-13 result at Donnybrook.
Jersey could meet up with former player Sean McCarthy, who
joined Leinster at the end of last season and played in last
Saturday's win at Plymouth, turning out at hooker rather than in
the loose-head prop position where he featured for the Islanders
over the two previous seasons.
Jersey squad v Leinster 'A' - British & Irish Cup
(Pool 5), Friday October 17th, Donnybrook, Dublin - k-o
7.30pm
Backs (15-9)
Jack Burroughs
Ed Dawson
Drew Locke
Lewis Robling
Grant Pointer
Jonny Bentley
Ryan Glynn
Forwards (1-8)
Ignacio Lancuba
Martin Garcia-Veiga
Danny Herriott
Nick Campbell
Dave Markham
Nick Haining
Ryan Hodson (capt)
Michael Noone
Replacements
Gareth Harris
Jon Brennan
Alex Rae
Joe Buckle
Nicky Griffiths
Aaron Penberthy
Tobias Hoskins
