JERSEY RFC’s U19s have several great incentives to progress in the National Colts Cup tomorrow when they travel to Brighton to tackle Hove RFC

Not only is the senior club’s Ashburton head of coaching Ben Harvey (pictured) travelling to cast his eye over the youngsters with a view to promoting them, but victory will result in a third round tie away to Petersfield RFC and a chance for revenge for last season’s Hampshire Cup final defeat.

Victory would then put them in line for a tie with some of the big fish in the Southern regions, with teams like London Irish, Welsh, Rosslyn Park and Blackheath still in contention. Although hit by injuries in key positions, regular captain and hooker Stephen de Ste Croix is still awaiting the results of a scan on his damaged knee, the squad have every reason to be confident of progressing.

A much vaunted Havant side were blasted aside 26-3 in the opening round and head coach Paul Mash can call on no fewer than seven of the 2007 Hampshire Cup winning squad, including three current first-team squad players in captain Joe Ellyatt and three-quarters Mark Livesey and Michael Le Bourgeois.