Professional Guernsey tame Heathen challenge

Guernsey 23, Fareham Heathens 3

A PROFESSIONAL performance on Saturday put Guernsey just two wins away from the Hampshire One title. Coach Rob Box was delighted to see his troops pass another test at Foote's Lane, this time against the in-form Fareham Heathens, without conceding a try and maintain their 100% winning home record this season.

'It was not pretty but like we have said to the guys, if every game was pretty, we would be playing in a league well above this one. You cannot play great rugby every time you go out on the park; sometimes you have to dig in and we got our job done.

'All that matters is that we won and we are now two games away from winning the league,' Box said.

Overall, it was a patchy display from Guernsey although they never looked in any danger of losing.

Some of the handling in the backs was excellent and the line-out functioned beautifully throughout but there were also some frustrating times with several knock-ons when they looked to keep things tight and being caught offside on numerous occasions.

However, a positive start manifesting from mistakes by the Heathens meant that the visitors were always playing catch-up.

Niall Allardyce's opening kick-off failed to travel 10m and from the resultant scrum, Fareham conceded a penalty which Stuart Lloyd-Jones hammered deep into the corner to put them under immediate pressure.

Andy Bailey came close to breaking the deadlock from the following line-out but was held up over the line.

Guernsey made no mistake just moments later, though, as Lloyd-Jones and Iain Johnston combined well before Velde van der Merve broke through the defence and popped the ball back for the supporting Ben Mahy to score.

Lloyd-Jones added the conversion, the first of five successful kicks by the fly-half who showed exactly what the Sarnians had been missing without a regular kicker.

The visitors responded well and reduced the deficit on 17min. as Allardyce slotted over a penalty after Guernsey were caught offside, but they were made to pay for another mistake on the restart.

Lloyd-Jones' drop kick was allowed to bounce into touch deep in the Fareham 22.

A succession of line-outs followed until Guernsey finally got a rolling maul driving forward on the right and the ball then came out to the backs who worked it right with Johnston delaying his pass to van der Merve, allowing the South African fullback a clear run to the line.

With just over a quarter of the game gone, Guernsey were 14-3 ahead.

By half-time that lead had been extended by six points thanks to Lloyd-Jones' left boot as he converted two penalties - the second being right on the half-time whistle.

The second half, during which Guernsey were playing into the breeze, did not come to life until the final 10 minutes.

The home side had slipped down a couple of gears but on 76min. a stolen line-out ball by Jock Quesnel on their own five-metre line led to a stunning move that covered almost the entire length of the pitch and involved virtually everyone in a green-and-white shirt.

That amazing break led to another penalty in front of the posts from which Lloyd-Jones completed the scoring.

There was still time for a couple of scuffles to break out and Fareham's Hayden Lewis was sin-binned for his involvement in the second, but that did not put a dampener on the victory.

'Everyone is very pleased with the win,' said Box.

'I thought Stuart was outstanding - he was our link today and I just hope he stays with us for the rest of the season because he is the sort of guy who can ease the pressure off you.

'It was also nice to have Velde back because he gives us something different with his size although Jock will probably get the players' man-of-the-match award for the way he led the forwards and his superb line-out work.'

Guernsey can now enjoy their day out at Tottonians in the Hampshire Bowl final next Sunday before their last two Hampshire One fixtures, away at Farnborough and at home to the Isle of Wight.