Box's boys so close to heroic cup glory

Tottonians 22, Guernsey 17

AN AGONISING defeat detracted little from an excellent Guernsey performance in the Hampshire Worthington's Bowl final. Playing away to a side that are two leagues higher than the Sarnians in the rugby pyramid and one that has beaten Jersey twice this season, the green-and-whites came within 10 minutes of a famous victory against Tottonians.

But on 70min. with the driving wind helping them, the home side finally broke through Guernsey's stout defence to edge into a two-point lead and a late penalty put the hosts beyond reach.

It could have all be very different though if a couple of vital decisions had gone in the Sarnians favour and the two crucial ones came within a matter of seconds 10 minutes into the second half.

Guernsey, who were leading 17-7 at that point after playing with the elements in their favour in the first half, produced a superb rolling maul that started outside the Tottonians 22 and got to within a couple of metres of the line before seemingly being pulled down.

The referee is within his rights to award a penalty try but he did not see it as deliberate.

The official allowed play to go on with Guernsey still having the momentum going forward and the visitors barged over the line, but their appeals for a try were rejected with judgement being that the ball was held up.

However, Rob Box wanted to emphasise the wonderful effort of his troops rather than criticise those decisions.

'A performance like that says a couple of things to me.

'Firstly, it shows that yes, we can play against a team higher than us in the leagues and compete. Secondly it makes it interesting when we go up a division because we will get promotion if we play like that.

'We are ready for it.'

Guernsey had gone ahead halfway through the first period as impressive newcomer Matt Morgan barged his way over in the corner.

Some poor tackling gave the home side a breakaway try six minutes later, Michael Searle the scorer converted by Paul Goodhall, but an instant response from Jim Elliott, converted by Dewald van Wyk, restored the lead.

Guernsey's man-of-the-match Velde van der Merwe scored a wonderful solo effort on the stroke of half-time to extend the lead to 10 points at the break.

But with the visitors being denied that further score earlier on in the second half, Tottonians pressed hard with the wind and two Paul Brading tries, a conversion from Goodhall and two penalties won them the Bowl.

'In the last 20 minutes our fitness, experience and the elements won us the game. The deciding factor was always going to be the wind,' said Tottonians captain Miles Northover.

'But Guernsey are an exceptional side and much credit for the way they played.'