All set for Shield glory

All set for Shield glory

Jersey hosts its first-ever national knockout game, the quarter-final of the Volleyball England National Shield, tomorrow, when Island side HLB Jackson Fox play Stowmarket at Haute Vallée.

Both sides beat English National Division II teams to progress this far with Stowmarket, a Division III side, beating Loughborough students and Jersey beating Wessex, both games played in January. While Stowmarket’s win wasn’t totally unexpected (they won the National Shield in 1985) Jersey’s was.

As coach Lee Ingram explained: ‘To beat Wessex was totally unexpected as they have four current England under-21 internationals. We beat them in England because our team played fantastically well and I think they (Wessex – and us!) didn’t quite know what to expect.The inclusion of Steve Rowe in the fourth set – totally unexpected, and forced on us because of injury –was a determining factor.’

However, Ingram believes that home advantage will play a part and that his Island side have nothing to fear. ‘The opportunity to play at home can only be good for us and for the game in Jersey,’ he said. ‘It also means that, at last, all of our supporters will be able to see us at such a high level. They deserve that for their support.’ The game starts at 1.30 pm.

• Picture: Stephane Gimenez, a Frenchman, forms part of Jersey’s ‘League of Nations’ side for tomorrow’s National Shield tie at Haute Vallée. Picture by Richard Wainwright (00454799)

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