New regime promises to attack and attack

THE Foote's Lane crowd could be in for a treat today as Guernsey's new coaching team send their side out to play an expansive game. Chobham are the visitors this afternoon (1.30 kick off) and Sarnian captain Andy Bailey emphasised that the new coaching team of John Colley and Steve Thomas along with senior players wanted to introduce a gameplan based on using the whole width of the pitch rather than taking on the opposition up front.

'Under the old regime we looked to fight fire with fire,' he said.

'Our new set of coaches have come in and we are now going for a 15-man game.

'Every side in the league has a great set of well-drilled forwards, they play a tight 10-man game and they do it well.

'As we looked at it, if we can get the ball wide, move the big boys around the field and tire them out more, we are going to get more out of these teams.

'Jersey whitewashed this league last season and they were prepared to throw the ball around, play an expansive game.'

Guernsey's cause has been helped enormously by the return of newly-married James Regnard as well as Ben Mahy and prop Simon Sharrott.

'We are going for a mobile pack. It is great to have both Jim and Matt Morgan available because they get through so much work and are important ball carriers for us,' Bailey said.

In the backs, Rupert Iles gets his first start at scrum-half.

The two sides had a hard-fought battle in Chobham earlier in the season and it ended with a 19-13 win for the home side. They currently lie fifth in the league with eight victories from their 14 games.

Last weekend's defeat to Effingham & Leatherhead saw Guernsey slip to 11th but they are only one win from a mid-table spot which Bailey is aiming for.

In the build up to this fixture, the Guernsey captain refuted suggestions of a lack of commitment from the players in the aftermath of Colin McLatchie's departure as coach.

He emphasised the demands on players with training twice a week as well as them being expected to do gym work two nights on top of a 22-game league schedule which is split between the island and England.

On top of that is the financial commitment team members have to make in terms of subs, match fees and medical costs.

'Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I do not like to hear the commitment of the players questioned,' Bailey said.

He feels that doubts might have beeen raised because after two years of outstanding success for the club, Guernsey are not pushing for a third consecutive promotion.

'If we, as I think we will, sustain our place in London Three South-West it will be a success. It will be a foundation for us to go on from and in a couple of years we could be challenging for promotion. This season was always going to be about consolidating our position.

'The building blocks are being put in place for the future.

'In my first season in the first team, we had to win our last game to stay in Hampshire One. Now we have increased our standard by two levels in two years. The intensity of the rugby is incredible: we are playing quality sides.'