Sarnians save their best until last

Guernsey 40, Camberley 17

WHAT a way to beat the drop. Guernsey produced a performance of a side that should have been gunning for promotion rather than fighting off relegation as they secured their London Three South-West status for another season.

Camberley, who began their campaign with seven straight victories and were lying fourth going into this encounter, were made to look distinctively average as the Sarnians played with power and pace as well as plenty of ambition.

The display was made all the more remarkable in the knowledge that Guernsey were recently deducted two league points for the postponement of their game with Andover. The Sarnians are appealing against the decision, but it certainly added to the pressure.

The overriding emotion at the final whistle was one of relief, but there was frustration as well.

'We are not a team that should be down there at the bottom of the table,' said captain Andy Bailey.

'There have been a lot of things that we have done wrong this season, but if we can get our preparations right for next time, there is no reason why this team cannot be up there challenging for this league.'

Straight from the kick-off Guernsey played positive, attacking rugby and demonstrated a will to spread the ball out wide using good handling and passing.

They camped themselves in Camberley's 22 for the opening five minutes and got the points reward they deserved when Jim Elliott nonchalantly took a pass above his head, cut inside his man and then outside the covering fullback to score a fine try.

Camberley had the chance to reduce the deficit but Alistair Allen's penalty attempt was unsuccessful and Carl Gardner's subsequent three-pointer for the hosts made it 8-0.

The scrum-half added a second penalty midway through the half after Darren Jones was pulled back off the ball after a delightful chip over the top and Guernsey, playing into the wind, were looking good.

Allen did manage to get his side on the board before the interval, but Camberley failed with two other kicks and the home side were 11-3 to the good at half-time.

Eight minutes after the turnaround, Guernsey began to turn on the style with a glorious second try.

From a scrum on halfway near the left touchline, James Regnard picked up from number eight and headed towards the openside, only to pop the ball off to flanker Darren Jones who switched back the other way.

Having drawn his man into the tackle, the Welshman offloaded to Paul Livesey and after an impressive hand-off, the winger galloped to the line.

It was a poignant moment for Livesey as this was his final league game for Guernsey before he takes up a teaching post in Thailand.

Gardner's excellent conversion increased the lead and just five minutes later it was extended further as Barry Goude ran 80 yards unopposed after picking up a loose ball from a wild Camberley pass.

Again Gardner added the extras and, despite Livesey being denied a second try due to a forward pass, Guernsey were cruising at 25-3.

The visitors, though, managed to put together a sustained period of pressure and finally breached the Guernsey defence with 15 minutes remaining as Andrew Fraser powered over the line for a try converted by Andy Walsh.

Gardner responded immediately with a penalty before Ben Le Huray finished off a well-worked set piece that saw Regnard take the ball at pace from a line-out, rejoin the line later in the move and deliver the killer pass to his inside centre.

Guernsey may have been getting too confident by now as Camberley substitute Wayne Mullen gambled and manage to intercept a pass on halfway and race to the line but the hosts had saved their best until last.

With the last attack of the match, Regnard deservedly got his name on the scoresheet.

It was created by a wonderful darting run by replacement Divan Crouse, who scampered through two tackles before drawing a third defender in and then offloaded to Paul Thomas.

The hooker showed quick hands in feeding Regnard and no one was going to catch him.

Alec Bailey, another replacement, added the extra two with the final kick of the game.

'We have threatened to do it on numerous occasions,' said Andy Bailey of the performance.

'We have finally got the squad fit and it is character that we showed today in a huge game for us.

'The boys have been written off for much of this season, but we have stuck together as mates with John Colley doing a terrific job as coach and I am proud of all of them.

'This game was everything. The Siam Cup would have meant nothing if we could not have continued playing at this level next season, but now we can look forward to that Siam in two weeks time,' the captain added.

* Andover beat Farnham 41-11 to confirm the latter's relegation.

The other London Three South-West results saw wins for London Irish Amateur, Old Wimbledonians, Weybridge Vandals and Winchester.