That Friday Feeling – 27th October 2023

Last Saturday Caldy were on the wrong side of a 12 try thriller against a much improved Nottingham side. Tomorrow they travel to Coventry’s Butts Park Arena to take on one of the best sides in the Championship. It isn’t going to be easy.

Coventry’s showing in the Premiership Cup demonstrated just how powerful the Midlands side is going to be this season. A significant 28-14 home win against Saracens, a 21-21 draw against Harlequins and a one point 32-31 reverse away at Gloucester marks out Coventry as one of the teams that should fairly be knocking on the door of the Premiership. But as we all know little is fair as far as entry into the Premiership is concerned.

Coventry will be show casing a side bristling with talent probably including Tonga’s world cup star Pat Pellegrini who provided some spectacular moments during the Pacific Island’s credible World Cup showing and of course former Caldy centre Lucas Titherington.

This home fixture for Coventry will be the first Championship fixture for them as the unexpected demise of Jersey, who Cov should have played away on the island last weekend, gave the Midlands side a blank week.
To their great credit Coventry still travelled to Jersey and amongst a number of generous initiatives by Coventry, their 1st xv squad helped out with the Jersey Minis and Juniors on the Sunday.

Coventry’s support for Jersey is what rugby is all about.
Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for Saturday’s 1st XV Championship fixture away against Coventry at the Butts Park Arena which kicks off at 4 pm.

1. N Rushton 2. O Hearn 3. J Sprotson 4. M. Gerrard 5. S Dickinson 6. E. Murphy
7. N Davidson 8. JJ Dickinson 9. J Murray 10. L Barker 11. M Cartmill 12. M Barlow 13. C Wilkinson
14. W Robinson 15. R Hayes 16. R Higginson 17. M Gallagher 18. W Sanderson 19. S. Olyott
20. H Crowe 21. C Pilgrim 22. B Jones 23 S Rogers

There is no match for the second xv this weekend