Back on home turf for the first time in two months, St Jacques will look to halt their four-game losing streak with a win over Gosport & Fareham this Saturday. With a long run of games ahead, a victory would provide a much-needed confidence boost.

The task is formidable, with visitors Gosport & Fareham sitting third in the table. They pushed runaway league leaders Havant Seconds to the brink last weekend before narrowly falling short. However, St Jacques will be motivated to put their recent struggles behind them and secure a crucial victory.

Earlier in the season, the Vikings led late into their match on the mainland, only for a penalty try to hand Gosport a narrow victory. Layton Batiste will hope his side can take the lead again this weekend and hold firm to the final whistle.

The game has been switched to the club pitch to help protect the Footes Lane surface, with the Guernsey Raiders playing later in the day and Guernsey FC in action on Sunday.

Despite several injuries from last weekend ruling out key players, the good news is Jacob Smith has recovered from a knee injury and returns to the second row alongside Tom Creed.

Creed, whose availability has been limited by injury and work commitments since October, has been a significant loss. His timely return will strengthen the pack against a powerful Gosport forward unit.

Lucas Barker will start on the bench but is set to earn his 50th cap when he enters play. After an impactful 60 minutes in the forwards last weekend following Smith’s injury, Barker may see more time in the pack this week.

Ewan Wakeham steps in at scrum half for his first start, following Dale Rutledge’s recall to the Guernsey Raiders. Wakeham made his debut off the bench last weekend, becoming the 40th Academy graduate to join the senior side since 2017. He partners with flyhalf Adam Giles, another colts player, who moves from scrum half to a more familiar playmaker role.

Captain Tom Veillard shifts to the centres this week, bringing control and leadership to the midfield. He’s joined by player-coach Luke Sayer, whose experience and attacking threat will be vital.

Jamie Mahy, who scored the Vikings’ only try last weekend, moves from the back row to the wing. Known for his versatility, defensive strength, and aerial skills, Mahy is expected to excel in the challenging conditions. Gearoid Lee and Matt Lomas-Lloyd round out the back three.

Up front, Michael Smith, Barnaby Paul, and James Mroch face a tough test against the experienced Gosport front row.

Luke Grigg earns his first start for the club, following an impressive impact off the bench against Bournemouth Seconds in December. Liam Welch and Chris Croft complete the back row, adding mobility and strength.

Winning the gainline battle—both in attack and defense—will be key for the Vikings this weekend. This was a major stumbling block against Bognor, and Batiste has called on his team to step up in this crucial area this week.

A win this weekend is pivotal for St Jacques as they gear up for seven consecutive fixtures. While they’ve come close against top teams this season, it’s time to turn near-misses into victories.

Kick-off is at 12pm on the club pitch at Footes Lane. The Guernsey Raiders follow at 2pm on the Garenne Stand against Havant.