Wizard start to Star Trophy campaign

Wizard start to Star Trophy campaign

But while their coaches are keen to emulate the progress made over the last two years in the competition, the main aim is to give the Jersey youngsters the best possible start in theirpreparation for the end-of-season showdown against Guernsey when they will bid to retain the Star Trophy.Said coach Paul Dicker: ‘A run in this competition is nice, but we look on it as a bonus.

Our priority is the Star Trophy match and we know that Guernsey will give us a big test next year.

They are a powerful, physical side and we need to build a team to take them on.’The JFA Centre of Excellence year group suffered a heavy (4-1) defeat against Guernsey recently and that and the lack of physical presence in the side has led to some new faces being introduced.

But the coach offers those left out a dangling carrot:’We’ve not had a great deal of preparation for Saturday’s match – just two weeks of trial sessions – so the door to the squad is by no means closed.’Victory over Southampton Schools, always a good strong side, would give the team an away tie with Bournemouth who were beaten on penalties at Springfield in the competition last year.Five or six players would be added to the squad to prepare for that tie, but whatever the outcome the whole process for Star Trophy selection will begin again in January.Haute Vallée teacher Brett Graham is also coaching the squad, who have a training session at the FB Fields on Friday, 3.30 pm start.The 15-strong squad contains Year 9 players Max Jouan (goalkeeper, Grainville) and defender James Querée (Les Quennevais).

The other 13 are: Greg Forster, David Kenyon, Jamie Cullen, Oliver Gallacher (all De La Salle), Pierce Cummins, Paul Dingle, William Golder, Oliver Thompson (Victoria College); Brett Willoughby, James Jones (Le Rocquier), Elliott Fernandes, Casey Laurent, (Les Quennevais) and Stevie Reid (Haute Vallée).

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