Guernsey 2nds made to work hard

GRUFC 2nd XV 22, St Jacques 5

COASTING at half-time, GRUFC 2nd XV were made to work hard as St Jacques showed great determination and heart. Conditions at Foote's Lane were not conducive to good, flowing rugby, the heavy pitch slowing play and the rain causing countless handling errors and turnovers.

In the post-match team huddle for St Jacques, there was plenty of self-congratulation and rightly so. Guernsey took the first half 22-0, but the all-blacks fought back with great character to score the only try of the second period.

They showed great heart, epitomised by Steve de Jersey, standing in at hooker for the first time in six years. His running and tackling were a great physical boost; his never-ending encouragement was just as important.

Guernsey were hampered in the final 15min. by not being able to contest the scrums. Substitute Jason Mroch had to hobble off the pitch with an ice-pack on a groin strain. Russell Roberts, whom Mroch had replaced at the break, had showered and changed, leaving the angry greens short of front-rowers.

But by then they had breathing space. Right from the first whistle, they pushed their opponents back, camping in the St Jacques 22.

The greens opened the scoring through Jim Rowe, who picked up the ball on halfway and raced clear under the posts, Carl Gardner's easy conversion making it 7-0.

That lead was extended with a second try, on 16min., for Lucas Meaney, an individual effort that saw him ghost past three attempted tackles.

When Mike Smith crashed over the line to the right of the posts from close range, the match was over.

There was still time for a fourth, on the brink of half time, as Rowe beat four men before offloading for Rob Reames to touch down.

Credit to St Jacques, they came out fighting after the break and looked to salvage some pride.

They put themselves on the board through Martin Renouf. A long period of pressure down the right spread across the park to the left of the posts and Renouf broke a tackle to cross the line.

Guernsey's match against Jersey in two weeks could be a title decider.

'We were a bit disappointed with our rucking, but it was good to give all the players a bit of a run-out,' said Guernsey skipper Carl Gardner. 'Low Brand, who came on at fullback in the second half, impressed a lot of people.'