Four-try Guernsey pass biggest test to date

Guernsey 22, KCS Old Boys 3

'THE best display from Guernsey this season' was Rob Box's verdict as the Sarnians continued their unbeaten start to the season in impressive style on Saturday. The coach had every reason to be delighted as his patched-up team put in a very professional performance to earn a decisive victory in their biggest test of the campaign to date.

KCS Old Boys came to Foote's Lane one place behind Guernsey in the London Four South-West table having lost just once in their previous four games, but a stunning defensive display from the home side after a blistering start ensured that the visitors never looked like scoring a try.

Both sides had difficulties before kick-off, with Box having to change his back line once more following the late withdrawal of Stuart Lloyd-Jones to injury - Lee Whatman coming in as full-back with Andy Bailey moving to inside centre - while KCS's arrival was delayed due to travel problems.

It was the home side who coped the better though as, in Box's words, KCS 'seemed to be on the plane still in the first 20 minutes'.

The Guernsey supporters, who again turned out in force, had to wait only until the fourth minute for their side to open the scoring.

A good period of pressure resulted in KCS being penalised just five metres from their own line and Willoughby Bloem took a quick tap before passing to Bailey who forced his way over.

Ten minutes later the advantage was extended in superb style as Guernsey produced a wonderful half the length of the field move from left to right, which was finished off by Dave Willis.

Both Bailey and Paul Livesey were involved a couple of times and Matt Morgan, as ever, was in support as the Sarnians showed excellent handling and off-loading skills to create a gap for the outside centre to race to the line. Werner Stroh converted, making it 12-0.

The hosts then virtually wrapped the game up with more than an hour to play as the excellent Jim Regnard went over after supporting a brilliant break from Bloem.

KCS managed to get on the board in the final minute of the half, captain Matt Roberts slotting over a simple penalty, but that was to be their only score.

The second half was a lesson in defence from Guernsey as they made all their tackles count and worked intelligently as a unit.

The only try after the turn- around was fittingly scored by the outstanding Bloem who dived over following another quick tap, this time by Morgan, close to the KCS line.

'Obviously, you can see by playing against a better opposition, you play better rugby yourselves,' said Box.

'They were very organised, they were strong both up front and in the backs, but our guys wanted it more and our defence was awesome. That was the key today; we were in their faces from the minute the whistle went.

'Towards the end we got penalised a few times but our penalty count was much better this week,' added the coach, who picked out his back row for special praise.

Roberts, the KCS skipper, admitted that his team's troubled journey did not help their cause, but he did not want to use it as an excuse.

'At the end of the day, they were just more fired up,' he said.

'It is irrelevant if you have the wind if you have not got the ball and that is what happened to us in the first half, but the spirit we showed up against the wind and a few injuries in the second half was pleasing.

'But Guernsey's defence was extremely well organised and they just did not give us anything.'