The elder of the Elliott brothers has now been involved in Siams for a decade. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0488498)
IT WOULD be hard to argue against the fact that the ‘Big Jim’ tag belongs to James Regnard in the Guernsey Rugby Club.
However, it would not be out of place attached to Jim Elliott, who, as well as being solid as a rock, has something else in common with his No. 8 colleague – both are today looking to complete a hat-trick of Siam Cup wins.
Only Darren Jones of the current squad was also involved in the famous victories of last year and 2005. Elliott admitted that ‘it is not until you see it later on TV’ that a player can fully take in what happens in a Siam match because it goes by so quickly, but he recalled that the two victories had been contrasting ones.
‘The main memory from the last [win] was basically all out defence – that is what won it,’ Elliott said.
‘The one before that [2005] was a bit more individual-based. We had a couple of stars who shone that day, and they also had a man sent off.
‘Because of that, while both were great days, for me last year had a more satisfactory feel to it because it was a real team effort and we won it XV against XV.’
Now 28, Old Elizabethan Elliott is a Siam veteran having played his first as an 18-year-old. A versatile player, he played at fullback in both the successes, but it is not his favoured position.
‘I prefer centre to wing or fullback because you do a bit more tackling and generally you are a bit more involved,’ said Elliott, who will be in midfield today.
‘At fullback you can feel isolated, especially when you are under a high ball and you have got 6,000 Jersey people screaming for you to drop it.’
Perhaps somewhat unusually for a back, Elliott’s eyes light up when he talks about his defensive duties and it is a relish that he takes onto the field.
There are only a select handful of Guernsey players who can regularly make a crowd wince with the ferocity of their tackling and he is one of those, as many opponents would undoubtedly testify.
With ball in hand, he is a powerful runner with an awesome hand-off, but also has a subtlety that can go unnoticed.
Guernsey certainly missed his influence earlier this season when a persistent hip injury ruled him out of action for a prolonged period, but he was happy to report that he is fully fit.
‘I have not played as much as I would have liked, but I have made it back for the big games at the end of the season and, of course, they don’t come much bigger than a Siam.’
So what will it take to make it a hat-trick of wins? Elliott agreed that the buzz word in either camp should be ‘discipline’.
‘I imagine that Jersey have got a pretty good catch and drive game, so the last thing we want to do is give away penalties in our own half to give them that opportunity.
‘We have definitely got to keep our discipline. Jersey have lost theirs before, so have we, and it does cost you dearly.
‘They will still go in as firm favourites. Normally in rugby, not as in football, the favourites will win a game nine times out of 10. But this is the Siam, it is a one-off and anything can happen.’
Today’s clash takes on extra significance for Elliott, though, as for the first time in his Siam career, he will feature in the same Guernsey squad as younger brother Mark.
‘It has taken me a while to persuade him to try rugby, but he has taken to it really well and for him to be in with a chance of playing in a Siam after only a few games is brilliant,’ said Elliott snr.
‘He has now played in the island side in football, hockey and rugby. He is a much better sportsman than me.’
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