TODAY’S Doug Tranter final between Jersey United Banks and the JRFC’s 2nd XV promises to be a fascinating battle of two contrasting styles.
For while Jersey 2nds have strength in the threes with the likes of Richie Griffiths and Hugh Bonn, Banks’ power is in the pack, not least because they have lost usual No 9, Tim de Gruchy (concussed) and flying winger Richard Finch (out of the Island).To supplement their threequarters they have had to bring in Nick Trower, normally a back-row forward, while Jim McCormack moves from full-back to scrum-half, to be replaced in turn by pacy Richard Stevens, at 15, back from university.’We’ve got a strong side out,’ said Banks’ captain Julian de Gruchy, ‘although training this week saw the worst attendance for the last three months.
I think the game will be won or lost in the forwards.
We’ll try to keep it tight, but the key could be which side has the best defence.’Meanwhile Jersey coach Dai Burton is looking forward to another version of 15-man, complete rugby, similar to last week’s team win against Guildford.’They’ve a decent pack of forwards,’ he said, ‘but where we can win it is in the threes.
They’re so pacy and, defensively, Banks won’t have as much space as they’ve had in the past, midfield.’No-one’s been selected who played in the 1st XV win last week, which means the likes of Ken Moore and Jon Brennan will start in the front row with Matt Collins and Dan Curzons packing down behind.
It’s a shame young Nick Trower isn’t playing in the back row.
If he had been, I think he would have been in for a bit of a pounding .
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.’Tomorrow’s Doug Tranter Plate, between Jersey Wanderers and Les Quennevais Sharks, at St Peter, kicks off at 1 pm.
Jersey U15s are in action today and tomorrow against UK opposition, 10 am kick-offs, St Peter.
Article posted on 20th March, 2004 - 12.00am
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