Jersey Reds travel to Emerald Headingly on the back of 4 straight wins, including last week’s exciting B&I cup quarterfinal victory over Doncaster Knights.
This is the 4th meeting of the two sides this term, with Yorkshire Carnegie holding a 2-1 advantage following an earlier league win at Stade Santander, and a home win a-piece in the pool stages of the cup, and so it is the hosts that must surely start as favourites having also had the benefit of a week’s rest.
Head Coach Harvey Biljon continues to rotate personnel in the front row in a quest to keep the whole squad fresh and sharp through to the end of the season. Roy Godfrey will start at loosehead, as he did against Rotherham Titans, and is partnered on the other side of the scrum by Fijian international Lee-Roy Atalifo. Nick Selway retains his place at hooker, and will surely look to add to his impressive try-scoring tally.
Cover from the bench is provided by Alec Clarey, as he did in the last two league games, Jared Saunders and Jake Armstrong.
Matt Rogerson keeps the number 8 jersey following an impressive return last week. He is flanked again by Max Argyle and Conor Joyce, with bench impact coming from Uili Kolo’ofa’i and Jake Upfield.
The backs have a familiar look to them and line up as they started against Doncaster, with Joel Dudley and George Eastwell again making up the match squad XXII.
Yorkshire Carnegie have won 12 out of 16 matches against the Reds in League & Cup since 2012, and Jersey have never won at Headingley in six attempts. Indeed, the only away win vs Yorkshire was in the Cup at York RUFC in Oct 2012, so this is a statistic that the islanders will be keen to update.
Finally, the encounter provides Biljon a chance to catch up with an old friend in the form of Chris Stirling, with whom he worked at Cornish Pirates, and who has recently joined the Yorkshire staff.
If you are looking for some live rugby closer to home, then why not come and support Jersey Reds Athletic who host Old Elthamians in the Zoo Sports Shield at St Peter on Saturday with ko at 1.30?
Jersey Reds squad v Yorkshire Carnegie (A) - Greene King IPA Championship Round 20/22, Sunday April 5th, Emerald Headingley Stadium, k-o 3pm
Backs (15-9)
Scott Van Breda (co-capt)
Tom Pincus
Apakuki Ma'afu
Mark Best
Jason Worrall
Brendan Cope
Kieran Hardy
Forwards (1-8)
Roy Godfrey (co-capt)
Nick Selway
Lee-Roy Atalifo
Jerry Sexton
Rory Bartle
Max Argyle
Conor Joyce
Matt Rogerson
Replacements
Jared Saunders, Alec Clarey, Jake Armstrong, Uili Kolo'ofa'i, Jake Upfield, Joel Dudley, George Eastwell
