Vets fight back to secure win

Guernsey Vets 33, Guernsey Seconds 26

FATHER triumphed over son when the Guernsey Veterans secured a famous victory over Guernsey Seconds in the Bachmann Cup decider. Nico Gardner captained the underdogs to victory over his son, Carl's, side, which had defeated the Vets 80-7 and 54-12 in previous encounters this season. Both sides beat St Jacques in this round-robin tournament to set up this testing encounter.

The Seconds dominated the opening exchanges, using their superior pace and fitness to exploits gaps in the defence.

Their first try came from a forwards' drive which released fly-half Zac Ferbrache; he broke through the Vets' backs before passing to Lucas Meaney, who went under the posts. Carl Gardner kicked the conversion.

They soon added a second try when the ball was spread wide to Darren Holden and he was able to go over in the corner. Gardner again slotted over for the extra two points.

The Vets responded to the 14-point deficit by playing 10-man rugby and forced the Seconds back to their own try-line time and time again until they conceded a penalty. Mike Marshall took a quick tap to score under the posts and he added the conversion.

The Vets forwards continued to drive the Seconds back in a series of rucks and mauls, with Mike Smith and Robbie Deweson outstanding in those aspects of the game.

Despite dropping vital passes twice on the Seconds' line, a second try finally arrived after a scrum as fullback Carl Johnson drove over beneath the posts to give Marshall an easy conversion.

More sustained pressure from the Vets in the Seconds' 22 produced good back-row movement off a scrum and Smith scored in the corner.

After the half-time interval, the Seconds returned to the field determined to redress the balance and for the first 10 minutes of the second period they put the opposition under severe pressure.

But the Vets produced a fine driving defence from inside their own half up to their opponents' 22, directed by the captain's rallying call. This eventually led to an impressive series of passing moves allowing Bailey to sidestep the Seconds' defence and score the fourth Vets try, a third under the posts.

Marshall added his third conversion.

Another counter-attack from the Vets, started by some exemplary tackling by the back row, gave the backs clean ball which allowed Westley to break through for their final try, also converted by Marshall.

As the game entered the last quarter, the difference in age and fitness between the two sides began to show, with the Seconds scoring two fine tries through Meaney and Gardner, the latter converting his score.

However, the Vets held out against a final onslaught due to their forwards' domination in the scrum and the loose to seal a superb victory.

The presentation of the Bachmann Cup is scheduled to take place after the Guernsey first team's final London Four South-West fixture of the season at home to Dorking in April.