ALTHOUGH he is leaving for New Zealand at the end of the season, JRFC coach Barry George expects Jersey to win promotion before he goes.

There are two ways for that to happen; to hope table-toppers Hayward’s Heath lose one of their last three games or for Jersey to win their final three and to meet a north London side, at St Peter, in the play-offs.

And, as Jersey meet bottom-placed Sevenoaks at home on Saturday, George is ringing in the changes.

‘Our game plan is to move the ball wide whenever we can for the rest of the season’ he said, having announced that Development players Luke Le Sueur (18) and Mark Livesey (18) have both been selected in his starting 15.

‘It’s time to give youth their opportunity. They’ve been selected on form. Although the forecast is for rain, which won’t suit our style of play, we’ll be aiming to play an open game.’

He added that although Sevenoaks, miracles excepted, will be relegated this year, the visitors have already looked to next season in the division below by reorganising the coaching structure and by appointing a new head coach.

‘You’ll have players trying to impress to get in next year’s set-up,’ he said, before adding that Hayward’s Heath, too, aren’t unbeatable. ‘We had our chances against them, but we weren’t helped when Nick (Buckley) had to go off with a damaged cheekbone.

‘He always looked dangerous as a line breaker.’

As it was, in their last game, three weeks ago, they lost 14-6, their first defeat of the season, although the home side didn’t always look invincible and were clinging on tightly for the win by the end of the game.

‘Sure, on their day any team can be beaten, including Hayward’s Heath, said George. ‘They’ve still tough games ahead, including one against (third-placed) Chobham.’

Meanwhile Buckley’s season is over. With four fractures around his eye socket he was operated on this Wednesday, and won’t be playing any more rugby until at least the end of the year.

Team: Jim Brimelow, Nathan Kemp, Jon Brennan, John Allo, Talite Vaioleti, Kern Yates, Latu Maka’afi, Graham Bell, James Cooper, Jon Swift, Luke Le Sueur, Keiaho Bloomfield, Steve O’Brien, Ryan Morgan, Mark Livesey. Replacements: Josh Chamier, Peter O’Connor, Toby Clyde-Smith, Ben Harvey.