Guernsey stage remarkable comeback in Cherbourg

Cherbourg 12, Guernsey U18s 20

GUERNSEY under-18s returned triumphant from their annual trip to play Cherbourg. Coach Tim Davison was delighted with the 20-12 win, especially considering that the same opposition had put 40 points on his side last year.

'It was a great result,' he said.

The Sarnians got off to a slow start and quickly found themselves 7-0 down almost immediately.

They then settled down for the next 15 minutes, which was based mainly in the middle third of the pitch, before Cherbourg put together a sustained attack and forced their way over from a five-metre scrum in the corner to make it 12-0.

'It looked very ominous at this point,' admitted Davison.

However, Guernsey started to play with more belief and with the forwards winning good ball from both scrums and lineouts, they began to move the ball positively down what looked a very pacy backline.

After 20 minutes, following a good kick to the corner flag, Guernsey challenged for and won the Cherbourg throw in.

From a great tap from the top of the line-out by Diogo Freitas, Jason Leadbeater moved the ball to Andrew Rigden who swiftly gave a miss pass to David Davison.

He timed his pass perfectly to Robbie Titterington, who put his head down and ran round the Cherbourg defence to make the score 5-12.

Moments later after winning a scrum against the head, Rigden kicked down the right wing where the ball bounced wickedly for Titterington to collect at pace and out-run Cherbourg in a 70m race for the line. Rigden converted to make it 12-12.

Belief had now really built up in the Guernsey side and that was crucial in the 10 minutes before half-time when Cherbourg camped on their line, but the ferocious tackling of the whole team - in particular Robin Le Cocq, Leadbeater and John Angliss - kept Cherbourg out.

After the break, Robert Sinclair emerged with the ball from a maul and launched a cross-field kick which Ben Challinor managed to get hold of and muscle his way across the line with three Cherbourg players hanging on to him to make the score 17-12.

With three minutes to go, Guernsey worked the ball up-field and won a scrum on the Cherbourg 22.

Rigden then proceeded to slot over a perfect drop-goal to seal the game.