Home and away wins for rampant greens

Eastleigh 16, Guernsey 29

GUERNSEY has returned to the top of Hampshire League One. The Sarnians overcame a poor first-half performance to secure a 29-16 win away to Eastleigh on Saturday while previous leaders Trojans were surprisingly beaten at home, 14-12, by Fareham Heathens.

That has left Guernsey a point ahead of both Trojans and second-placed Isle of Wight, 10-6 winners at Sandown & Shanklin.

Colin McClatchey was coach in charge of the green-and-whites against Eastleigh with Rob Box concentrating on second-team matters and he emphasised how important the most-recent victory was.

'With Trojans having lost, it has turned the weekend into a four-pointer for us and it has put us in a good position, albeit it with several hard games still to play,' he said.

'The character of the side is what has been impressive.

'Last year those were games we lost - away at Eastleigh and teams like that. This year we have gone over there and taken the points. It has not always been pretty but we have got the right results and a lot of that is down to a fantastic team spirit.'

McClatchey described the match as scrappy, despite the playing conditions being perfect, and he admitted that there were a few home truths being said in the Guernsey camp at half-time.

'In the first half we were awful and the players know that. There was no commitment, no aggression - we just did not get going at all.

'We went into the break 10-10 and we were lucky to go in level; the one pleasing thing had been the defence which was quite good.

'We changed the front row for the second half and brought Craig Wilson on to add more experience. In the first scrum of the second half, we knocked them back and we won a couple against the head and gave our backs a platform to work from,' McClatchey said.

At one point Guernsey trailed 16-15 after giving away a couple of sloppy penalties, but as the game wore on they began to turn on the style and finished with a five-try performance.

Ian Johnson led the way with a brace, while skipper Carl Johnson, Paul Livesey and Andy Bailey all grabbed a touch-down apiece. Alec Bailey converted two of the scores.

There were also first-team debuts for Mark Stone and Duncan Jackson, who got some game time as replacements.

'In the last 20 minutes we played some of the sweetest rugby we have produced this season.

'We won a lot of ball, drove it forward and released the backs and we have got a back line that will cause anyone in the league problems,' McClatchey said.

Guernsey's next fixture is at home against bottom side Fawley on Saturday and that is followed the next weekend with the vital re-arranged trip to play the Isle of Wight.

But Guernsey know that their promotion hopes are now firmly in their own hands.

* Guernsey seconds made it an excellent weekend for the club yesterday with a hard-fought 17-12 win over Beeches in the top-of-the-table JRA League clash.

Chris Eyton-Jones, Mark Stone and Ken Dixon were the home side's try scorers at Foote's Lane, with Carl Gardner added one conversion.