Guernsey four clear

Petersfield 9, Guernsey 29

GUERNSEY eased four points clear at the top of London Four South-West and coach Rob Box professed to be ending the year 'very happy' to be firm title and promotion favourites. 'If someone had said to me before the season we'd be going into the Christmas break having won nine and drawn one I would have taken that,' said the coach after seeing his side run in five first-half tries to complete a double over Petersfield.

Elsewhere, the in-form Old Reigatian won 5-0 at Dorking to go second in the table.

All the points came in the first half and had any arrived in the second it is doubtful any spectator would have seen them, so thick was the fog.

'We sort of cancelled each other out and most of the play was around the halfway line,' said Box of the second period.

Guernsey had the advantage of the slope in the first half and dominated with tries coming from James Regnard, skipper Carl Johnson, Andy Bailey, Paul Livesey and Iain Johnston, two of which were converted by Lee Whatman.

Box had drafted Jim Rowe and Ken Wrigley into the side and heaped praise on both.

'Jim Rowe had a great game at number 10, especially going forward, and Ken was outstanding in the front row.

'We took our chances and scored when we had to.'

Box said there would be no resting on laurels though.

'We are going to try and keep the guys fit up up until a couple of days before Christmas.

'Then we will have a week off and be ready to do business against at home to Southampton on 8 January.'

In the Bachmann Cup, Guernsey Veterans beat St Jacques 10-8 at the KGV.