Morale boost for Sarnians

Walcott 15, Guernsey 19

GUERNSEY RUFC overcame their first hurdle of the season with an impressive pre-season friendly victory at the weekend against one of the strongest and oldest junior rugby clubs in the Bath area. Coached by former England and Bath player Steve Ojomoh, the Walcott side were physically larger and vastly more experienced than Guernsey.

The hosts began the game impressively with sustained attacks on the Guernsey line and with the young Sarnian side struggling to maintain any possession or territory, Walcott soon opened the scoring with an unconverted try in the corner after making the most of an overlap.

With the Guernsey back row trio of Ben Mahy, Brendon Madey and James Regnard, who was playing against his old club, beginning to make an impact on the game combined great team discipline in defence, Guernsey repelled the Walcott attacks.

Only the failure to hold a final pass on a couple of occasions resulted in the visitors going into half-time 5-0 down.

At the start of the second half, Guernsey really came to life and showed the benefits of head coach Jon Colley's hard pre-season fitness training on the beach.

After a turnover at a Walcott line-out, prop forward Simon Sharrott broke through but, surprisingly with the try line beckoning, didn't back his pace or his renowned sidestep, and sensibly put centre Jim Elliott away with a beautifully timed pass for an unconverted try.

Guernsey soon extended their lead after Elliot put away captain Andy Bailey, who beat the Walcott fullback and winger with his 'dancing feet' to score under the posts.

The lead was extended further as scrum half Carl Gardner converted the try to put Guernsey 12-5 up.

Both Regnard and then Ben Le Huray failed to extend the Guernsey lead when perhaps a pass might have been the better option before, ominously for Guernsey, Walcott got within two points following an unconverted pushover try.

However, Guernsey responded immediately, capitalising on the Walcott's fullback's inability to gather a chip ahead.

A series of forward drives resulted in openside flanker Mahy going over for a try, again converted by Gardner.

A final-minute consolation try for Walcott scored from a driving maul, left the final margin at four but it was a well-deserved victory for the Sarnians that was testimony to the hard work all the players have put in through pre-season.

'It was a great team performance,' said Bailey.

'Our fitness levels got us through what was a really hard workout ahead of the league season.

'It is great for the club to see youngsters like Leighton Batiste, Adam Shields and James O'Reilly making their senior debuts. With a 22-game league season ahead of us, they will all have an important part to play as it progresses.'

* GUERNSEY kick off their London Three South-West season away to Old Mid-Whitgiftian on Saturday 9 September.