Only the under-21s have provided any joy for the Reds in recent years, with their victories in 2015, 2016 and 2017 denying Guernsey a hat-trick of 4-0 whitewashes. The Sarnians have in fact won three out of four matches every year since 2012, when Jersey claimed three titles of their own.
The Caesareans’ ladies squad have not won an inter-island clash this century, while Jersey’s men’s take to the court looking for their first victory in six years.
Men’s player-manager Bob Gouzinis said: ‘We have on-going injuries, but we are dealing with them and hopefully the players will be okay on the day.
‘We will put a team out who will look to do their best and whatever the outcome it does not matter. Building a team is a constant process and we are always doing that looking forward.’
Ladies coach James Reed – the men’s team captain – said: ‘We know that history is against us in this fixture, but the group is firmly focused on what we are doing right now and on what we are building in the run up to next year’s Island Games in Gibraltar. We have added a few promising younger players and the group is ready for a good performance.’
The opening tip-off for the men’s match is at 3.30 pm. The ladies start at 1.30 pm with the U17 and U19 games starting at 9.30 and 11.30 am, respectively.
Jersey men: James Reed (captain), Jake Michel (vc), Andrew Barreto, Cameron Stables, Conor Bisson-Mercury, Dave Middleton, Guillaume Hoareau, Jack Searson, Joe Harvey, Miguel Martins, Jordon Neill, Pawel Zalewski, Zuhair Shami, Luke Hazelwood-Hamon. Coach: Bob Gouzinis. Assistants: Miguel Martins, Joe Harvey.
Women: Alexa Kirkland, Annika Engebrecht, Dominique Halliday, Emma White, Eszter Katona, Heather Watters, Kerry Helwig, Lauren Syddall, Magdalena Blazejewska, Ping Ho, Sheetal Varma, Taz Marie. Coach: James Reed. Assistant: Marian Sugitan.
U21: Luke Newton (captain), Aaron Le Flohic, Alexander de Rue, Jack Searson, Jake Hall, Matthieu Tweedie, Pierce Walters, Scott Le Flohic, Stephen Arthur, Tom Godfrey, Zuhair Shami. Coach: Krzysztof Radzimski. Assistant: Conor Bisson-Mercury.
U17: Aaron Le Flohic (co-captain), Jack Searson (co-captain), Callum Gilmour, Greg Langston, Harry Whitney, Joe Hills, Scott Le Flohic, Nabil Shah, Tom Whitney, Zuhair Shami. Coach: Stuart Gilmour. Assistant: Guillaume Hoareau.
