Bailey's battlers get no points for courage

Guernsey 10, Chobham 13

WHEN things aren't going for you, sport can be extremely cruel. The harsh reality is that Guernsey suffered a 10th defeat of the season at Foote's Lane on Saturday.

In truth, though, the Sarnians put on an immensely brave performance which deserved much more than it got.

For more than half the game the hosts had to play with 14 men following the dismissal of H Morgan for a second yellow card offence in the space of 10 minutes, yet they battled like men possessed and left captain Andy Bailey rightly proud.

'Sometimes the ball just does not bounce your way, but the character of the side was there for all to see. The lads never gave up out there. I cannot fault them,' said the skipper.

Although the visitors started brightly and camped themselves in the Guernsey half for the opening 10 minutes, the home side's defence was positive and they did not give Chobham a sniff of the try line.

When, eventually, the Sarnians finally got their hands on the ball, they put their expansive game plan into action and looked dangerous.

Had Ben Mahy been able to hang on to a difficult, low offload from Simon Sharrott after the prop had made a decisive break up the middle, Guernsey would have opening the scoring after 12 minutes.

As it was, though, they had to wait a further four.

An attack down the left was ended when Chobham turned the ball over, but their clearance kick fell straight into Paul Livesey's hands and he darted towards the right-hand corner on the counter.

The fullback found Barry Goude on the overlap and the winger scampered unopposed over the remaining 30 yards.

Just three minutes later, Goude had his and Guernsey's second score. Matt Morgan started the move from within his own half and had his fellow Welshman Darren Jones, in support. The flanker raced over halfway and spun the ball out wide to scrum half Rupert Iles, who enjoyed a fine debut in testing circumstances, and he darted down the touchline.

Goude then took over possession and although he had Jim Regnard on his left shoulder, the winger backed himself to make it to the line, which he did with an outstanding demonstration of power and pace.

Ten points up and looking good, Guernsey must have felt confident of their first win of 2006.

However, on 28min. there came an important moment in the game when both H Morgan and his opposite number: Jared Myatt, were sin-binned for spot of afters in a ruck.

By this reporter's watch, both players were generously reintroduced to the action by the referee after seven minutes of inactivity rather than 10, but Morgan was to last just a further two.

On another day with a different official, the Guernsey lock might have stayed on, but the decision was understandable if unfortunate.

Morgan chased a loose ball and as a Chobham player dropped on it, he followed in and his knees made contact with the opponent.

It seemed as if Morgan could not stop his momentum and was caught in two minds as to how to deal with the situation, but the referee was right on top of the action and felt he had no option but to issue a red card.

Having lost a man, Guernsey suffered another blow on the stroke of half-time when Andrew Walsh's crisp penalty kick put Chobham on the scoreboard.

Playing with the wind assisting them after the turnaround, the visitors put the hosts under a lot of pressure early on, using their one-man advantage to the full.

The inevitable try, when it came on 52min., was extraordinary to witness.

Man after man were committed by the yellows into a maul five yards out until, incredibly, they had 14 men pushing the Sarnians back over their own line before the ball was touched down.

Walsh it was who emerged with the ball and he then added the conversion to level the scores.

With a quarter of the game remaining, he successfully knocked over his second penalty, awarded for hands on the floor in a ruck, and it proved to be the critical blow.

Guernsey's response to going behind was impressive, though, and although they could not create another score, their efforts bode well for the rest of the campaign.

'The guys gave Guernsey everything on that pitch,' Bailey said.

'I thought the sending-off was unfortunate. The first yellow was for H. backing up his mate, which you expect him to do. I must admit, I did not see the second offence. But we win as a team and lose as a team. H will be disappointed, but no one will be blaming him for anything.'