JAMES REGNARD has returned to the Guernsey team with a bang.
Two tries in the 46-6 win at Winchester on Saturday has got the club’s talisman grinning again after four months on the sidelines following his broken leg at the start of November.
‘The ankle is fine. It was a bit sore [after the game], but it is bearing up well,’ Regnard (pictured) said.
‘It is just nice to get some game time,’ added the man who played all 80 minutes as flanker last week.
‘It was touch and go whether to play on Saturday, but it was strapped up well and I got the OK from the surgeon.’
Fly half Blair Campbell ensured Regnard got on the ball early to build his confidence and the big man played an integral part in the impressive victory.
‘It was always the aim to have a couple of games before the Siam,’ Regnard said.
‘I could have possibly played a bit earlier, but it was not worth risking.
‘The leg seems to be getting stronger and now I just need to work on match fitness.’
Captain Simon Sharrott hopes Regnard’s return, and that of player-coach Jordan Reynalds and Darren Jones in the near future, bodes well for a memorable climax to the season.
‘It was a solid performance from him,’ said Sharrott.
‘[He has] plenty to work on in training, as can be expected from such a lengthy time on the sidelines, but it is encouraging as we are starting to get our full squad back, which will hopefully enable us to put a string of good performances in towards the end of the season and finish on a real high.’
Sharrott was delighted with his team’s execution of set piece and phase play in Winchester and picked out Nick Barton and Blair Campbell for special praise.
‘Both had great games and Blair controlled the game very well.’
Sharrott is now demanding that his players take the same commitment into tomorrow’s match against Effingham & Leatherhead at Foote’s Lane.
He said the visitors will be confident following some good wins in their last few outings.
‘We must have the confidence and enthusiasm to make the one-up tackles and to have that drive to win, which I believe we are creating within our young squad.
‘We will play the game at our pace and will not get tied into a dogfight as this is what E&L will want to do from past experiences.
‘They have got a big physical pack, so again we will be asking our tight five to front up and do what is expected of them – be physical and ruthless when going about their job, which will enable us to play the game in the style that we practise on at training,’ added the captain.
Tomorrow’s match kicks off at 2pm.
Article posted on 13th March, 2009 - 2.30pm
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