Kicking deficiencies make it hard work

Trojans 17, Guernsey 25

GUERNSEY reached the final of the Hampshire Worthington's Bowl for the first time, but their best season in years could end in tears unless they solve their ongoing kicking problem. 'We did it the hard way,' said Carl Johnson, the Guernsey captain who sat out the deserved semi-final win over Trojans and agonised at his team's inability to kick penalties and conversions.

The green-and-whites ran in five tries but failed to convert any, including two from in front of the posts.

Trojans, who won the two sides' recent league encounter 11-10, scored one try and registered four penalties in what was a physical game.

The return of Stuart Lloyd-Jones, the injured former captain and regular kicker, cannot come soon enough, says Johnson who was not risked with important league games coming up.

'Given the try count they should have been nowhere near us,' said the captain, who hopes to have Lloyd-Jones back soon.

Yet Guernsey trailed 15-17 as the match went into the final quarter.

Two late tries took the visitors out of reach, although they were glad to see a Trojan drop the ball over the line when seemingly certain to score in the dying moments.

On a perfect pitch it was not a game for Guernsey's talented back division.

'Our backs played reasonably well given that we had a few injuries.

'But we dominated the scrums as well as the rucks and mauls,' said the regular captain.

'It was a forward-dominated game and we dominated up front, which won us the game.'

Three of Guernsey's tries resulted from mauls and two of them were pushovers.

Hooker Paul Thomas registered two scores, while James Regnard, Ben Mahy and van der Heever, who came off the bench, also scored.

'It was pretty tight until the last 20min. when we got up by eight points and stayed that way,' said Johnson, who can look forward to his men going into the final as clear underdogs.

Tottonians, their opponents on Sunday 21 March, play two divisions higher than the Guernsey squad and the English side have already this season beaten Jersey, who are in the same flight.

Tottonians, who beat Petersfield 31-7 in the other semi-final, will be at home.

Meanwhile, Jersey side Les Quennevais missed out on a place in the Hampshire Worthington's Plate final when they lost 33-21 to Millbrook who now play Fareham Heathens in the final.

GUERNSEY 2nds saw their JRA Emeraude League title hopes dashed when they lost 12-0 to Wanderers at the Jersey RUFC headquarters.

Needing to avoid defeat to lift the championship, the depleted Guernsey squad were 12 points down at the break after tries from Mick Mayo and Guy Hinks and a conversion from Creavy.

Beeches win the league on points difference, after both they and Guernsey finished level on 30 points.