Jersey pack more punch and add to Sarnian woe

Guernsey 0, Jersey 27

GUERNSEY will have to wait a while longer in their quest to win the Siam Cup. But if Jersey had been able to finish all their scoring opportunities, as they did when hooker Doc Snook scored their first try, then the result could have been even more convincing.

Guernsey predictably took the game to the visitors in a scrappy opening.

Both sides traded missed kicks - Guernsey full back Johannes Bekker was well short with one and narrowly wide with another from 22 metres - before the visitors took control.

Skipper Andy Allan, never a Siam loser, was prominent in his reading of the game with good support from the rest of the back row.

Jersey fly half Jon Swift pulled a penalty attempt wide after 13 minutes but they opened the scoring from the resulting line out.

Thorpe broke for the line only for Snook to carelessly loose the ball, throwing an attempted pass inside. From the scrum Guernsey were driven backwards - not for the first time - and Dave Miles set his three-quarters away.

Guernsey were adjudged offside as the move broke down and Miles quick tap set Howe away for the line.

Although he was held Snook was in support to make amends for his earlier error and take the ball on over the line and score. Swift converted for a 7-0 lead.

Minutes later Jersey increased the lead.

A move across the pitch set centre Arnou Helmhol-Kneisel away to cross the line and score under the posts.

Swift converted for a 14-0 lead and after just 18 minutes, in which, apart from the scrummages, Guernsey had looked the better side, they were already chasing the game.

Fly half Jim Wyatt was being given no scope at all to play, but his opposite number Swift, even under pressure, was able to direct Jersey and keep the home side on the back foot.

Quick hands and tap penalties from Miles gave the home side no respite. But Guernsey had a rare break-out on 22 minutes.

Graham picked up at the base of the scrum and his pass set Burt away to break through Jersey's cover before O'Brien bundled him into touch just 10 metres short of the line.

Guernsey hopes rose as the packs swapped punches at the lineout and Jersey were penalised, but Guernsey predictably lost the vital scrum, overpowered by the red pack.

Guernsey, to their credit, refused to fold. They came back in the last few minutes.

Wing Andy Bailey, centre James Regnard and full back Johannes Bekker all had opportunities, but often support was lacking and Guernsey repeatedly lost the ball trying to offload in the tackle.

Soon after the restart, though, Jersey effectively killed off the game.

The home side were penalised after White's break and Swift's up-and-under was knocked on by Bekker. From the scrum Jersey drove for the line for Dean to touch down.

Swift missed the conversion but his long kicks to the corners were keeping Guernsey under pressure as they had to turn and chase the loose ball.

The percentage game saw Jersey awarded a number of scrums where Guernsey were kept under constant pressure.

When the greens went offside at a lineout and went backwards at the resulting scrum, Pat Dean picked up and set Miles away to beat despairing tackles to score.

Replacement Paul Woodcock, on for Ben Thorpe, almost made an immediate impact as he made for the line after gathering Bob Le Brocq's lineout ball, only for Regnard's tackle to bring his run to an end.

But Guernsey were penalised at the break down and Swift converted the penalty in front of the posts for a 27-0 lead with 15 minutes to go.

Guernsey needed someone to give them momentum in the way that Allan was doing for Jersey, as they attempted to take the game to the visitors.

Replacement Rob Box tried his best, supported by Wyatt, but the game was already up for the home team with 10 minutes of the match remaining.

Jersey's smart handling in the closing quarter saw them take the play from one touchline to another for replacement Darren Toudic to nearly break through.

Carl Johnson gathered the loose ball and attempted a break, spurred on by the crowd. Steve O'Brien tackled him into touch and the pair traded punches before departing the scene on the back of yellow cards.

The game ended with Toudic almost breaking through from the halfway line, to be stopped just five metres short.

From the lineout Jersey's pack drove for the line, but Guernsey held the drive and cleared to hear the final whistle.