A FULL squad of 22 players will look to make use of elite ground at St Peter on Saturday as Jersey RFC Women attempt to reduce their deficit at the top of National Challenge 2.
Hove 2nds are set for a visit in the South East (South) division and pitch one at Stade Santander offers those involved an opportunity to take centre stage, in front of what could be a sizeable crowd, while Jersey Reds and Jersey RFC both enjoy a weekend off.
Simon Le Moignan’s squad lie in second place after nine games, with seven wins to their name, although the intricacies of RFU league tables at this level mean that Jersey’s promotion task is not as straightforward as ‘win every game’. With one bonus point on offer for fielding 15 players, and another for simply turning up if you lose, Horsham’s 18-point advantage at the summit could be difficult to overcome.
Jersey do hold two games in hand over the unbeaten leaders, who they face on 2 April, but the Islanders require at least two blips from their rivals if they are to have any chance of topping the table and claiming to single automatic-promotion spot.
‘We are in a good position and we’ve just got to keep putting points on teams,’ said head coach Le Moignan. ‘We’ve still got to play Horsham at home and we’ll just hope they slip up on a couple. We’ll just keep chipping away.’
He added: ‘We have around 100 people booked for lunch before the game, including personal sponsors and shirt sponsors, and it’s being played on pitch one, which will be nice for the girls. And it’s England v Wales afterwards [Six Nations], so it should be a good afternoon of rugby.’
Jersey beat Hove 49-0 when the sides met in November. The south-coast side’s only on-field victory came on the opening day of the season, in September, against Seaford. Their other ‘win’ came one week later, courtesy of a forfeit by Trojans 2nds.
