GUERNSEY are out to regain the Gilson Cup tomorrow. The island first team travel to Jersey for the annual inter-insular having lost for the last two years, including a narrow 16-14 defeat in 2006, following their previous 27-year unbeaten streak.
The new rally-point scoring system is now in use for all inter-insular matches, which makes for slightly shorter games, but makes player skill and accuracy more important.
Sarnian hopes are boosted as the women’s team looks the strongest contingent in several years and that will be needed as their Caesarean counterparts are also very strong.
Commonwealth Games star Elena Johnson, in her third year as a Birmingham University student, makes a welcome return to the Guernsey ranks, as does Bridget Podger, who is still a very powerful player.
Along with island stalwarts Sarah Garbutt and Wendy Trebert, the selectors have also chosen two new players.
All season in league play, top junior Kiara Green, 17, and Gayle Lloyd have been very consistent and both will be making their first Gilson Cup appearance.
Unfortunately, the men’s team will be without the services of three top players in Glenn Macfarlane, Darren Le Tissier and the recovering-from-injury Kevin Le Moigne.
However, with Paul Le Tocq, Quentin Petit and Chris Dragun, the basis of the side is still very strong.
A lot will rest on the shoulders of Ben Martin, who is also still available before returning to university, and it is hoped Andy Orme can produce the quality of play of which he is very capable.
Again the selectors have chosen youth in top junior Stuart Hardy, 18, who is also making his Gilson debut. His standard of play has risen dramatically over the season and he justly deserves his chance.
Petit captains the team and the selectors, Angela Stuart, Chris Golding and Andrew Podger, hope that the spread of experience and youth, will be enough to regain the trophy.
Article posted on 20th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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