Coach still eager for an 80-minute performance

GUERNSEY'S anxious search for a full-on 80-minute performance continues at Foote's Lane tomorrow. Coach Colin McLatchie admitted his frustration and bewilderment at his side's patchy displays during their first campaign in London Three South-West.

Last week's defeat to London Irish Amateur was a case in point and McLatchie wants the problem resolved as soon as possible.

'Even the games we have won we have not played for 80 minutes. We are giving teams opportunities,' he said.

'That is what we did last Saturday. We were awful for the first 20 minutes, then we stepped on the gas and got ahead by half-time. In the second half, though, we just switched off again.

'I think a lot of it is just in the mind at the moment. Some people are yet to get to grips with playing in this division.'

But far from being negative, the coach was eager to point out that no one expected the step up to be easy and his side have shown they can mix it with others in the division.

'We have always said if we can win our homes games and sneak an odd away one it will be a decent season,' McLatchie said.

'The games we have lost away from home have all been winable: the one disappointment is that we have lost one at home.

'But in the grand scheme of things, from the targets we have set, we should not be despondent.'

Tottonians, who have a won four, lost four record, are the visitors to Foote's Lane tomorrow (1pm kick off).

Guernsey will be without lock John Flynn, who is off the island for a wedding, but Jim Elliott returns after a holiday.

McLatchie is looking to build on the platform that his pack gave the side last week.

'The tight five did very well in the set piece. They scrummaged well and the line-out was functional. What we have asked of them now is to try and up the ante in open play,' he said.

'They have done a lot of hard yards, but what we have not had is big ball-carrying runs with a prop or second row making 20 yards. That is the only negative of the front five.'