ARMSTRONG BACK FOR FESTIVAL DAY AT ‘THE LANE’
They didn’t think he would be back til January or later, but last season’s player of the year, Anthony Armstrong, is surprisingly named in the starting XV for tomorrow's home game against Canterbury.
Armstrong, who suffered a posterior dislocation of his shoulder in the first home game of the season against Worthing in September, goes straight back into the team after proving his fitness.
‘Yeah, he’s coming on well,’ said head coach Jordan Reynolds.
‘He didn’t need surgery and we’ve been able to get him back early.’
His recovery is timely as Luke Sayer is unavailable this week and even allowing for some natural rustiness adds some added zip to the backline which has been hit hard by injuries since day one.
Winger Daley Aremu, who successfully made his own comeback last weekend after also being injured in the Worthing game, has had to pull out this week after the injured flared up again after training on Tuesday.
However, a promising second half performance last week, has really buoyed the Guernsey camp.
‘We are really confident after last weekend,’ said the coach.
‘Every game we must view now as a potential win and be putting in 80 minutes performances.
‘We are on 18 points but we feel we should be on more,’ said Reynolds, who also welcomes back Sam Steventon to the front row in place of Cameron Craine.
Jason Batiste is also back in the centres which will enable Elia Morisio to take a partial rest on the bench.
The game kicks off at Footes Lane, 2pm.
The RBSI Guernsey Rugby Academy U16's will be facing off against their Canterbury counterparts ahead of the Guernsey Raiders match. Kick off at 12 noon on the Garenne Stand pitch.
Guernsey team:
Steventon, Ceillam, L. Batiste, Hillier, Merrien, Le Cocq, Rice, Horrocks, Clemett, Greenhalgh, Gow, J. Batiste, Ahne, Elliot, Armstrong. Replacements: Anderson, Craine, Shannon, Morisio, Bolton.