Appeal to RFU likely

UNHAPPY Guernsey have not given up hope of winning London Four South West. While confusion reigns over exactly how many teams - one or two - will be promoted to Powergen London Three South-West, GRUFC chairman Adie Le Page said yesterday his club planned another appeal over the decision not to replay Guernsey's match with Old Emanuel.

It was a game they won on the pitch but subsequently deemed abandoned due to an uncontested scrum in the late stages at Foote's Lane.

As things stand Guernsey are two points behind top-of-the-table Old Reigatians who completed their 18-match schedule with 31.

Guernsey have 29 from 17 with the Old Emanuel result hanging in the balance. The greens also have a better points difference.

'To my way of thinking,' said Le Page, 'they either reinstate the or win or allow us to replay it.'

A provisional re-arrangement date had been set for next weekend, but that now seems unlikely.

'We are in the process us trying to open up an appeal process and get the Old Emanuel game to be replayed or get the result to stand,' said,' Le Page.

'The lads want to win it.

'We feel we won the game against Old Emanuel and should get the points.'

An appeal to the divisional secretary could be Guernsey's next move.

Meanwhile, there is no official confirmation that Guernsey will be promoted, although Le Page understands they will be.

'I've been told by the league secretary we are definitely going up.'

But an RFU source said that a verbal assurance of that kind goes 'totally against what the RFU have ever done.'

It appears that Guernsey played virtually their entire campaign under the impression that only the champions were promoted, until Barry Myland, secretary for London Four South-West told them different.

Unless the Old Emanuel match is replayed, Rob Box's faltering Guernsey side have just one more big match to play this season, the Siam on 30 April.

The bad news is that Andy Bailey is definitely ruled out with damaged ligaments, but a potential saviour does lurk.

South African stand-off Smid could make his first-team bow against Jersey having arrived too late to register for the league campaign.

'He's awesome,' said Le Page. 'He's a dynamite tackler. He could make the difference.'

The GRUFC chairman added that he had also heard a rumour that Willoughby Bloem and Werner Stroh, the two Springboks who were key to the side's fantastic start to the season, were on the way back.

But, said Le Page, it's not only a question of if, but when.