Brilliant pack set up 2nds' nine-try romp

THE seconds made it a winning weekend for the Guernsey Rugby Club, with an emphatic 57-5 victory over Jersey Wanderers at Foote's Lane in the JRA League. Still with key players missing, Guernsey started well and immediately the recent hard work in training on the set pieces of scrummaging and line-out began to pay dividends against the larger and more experienced Wanderers pack.

With stand-in captain Dave Hatcher leading the side from the front, Guernsey soon crossed the line through the first of a brace of tries from fly half Alec Bailey.

Fullback Aaron Le Messurier soon extended the lead with a fantastic run starting in his own 22 and despite Wanderers hitting back immediately, further tries in the first half from under-18s Andrew Rigden and Robin Le Cocq, both converted by Bailey, gave the greens a comfortable 24-5 half-time lead.

With Le Cocq, fellow youth player Josh Fox and Brendon Madey in the back row, breaking down the Wanderers attacks, Guernsey soon extended their lead with the try of the game.

From stolen lineout ball by Sam de Kooker, Rigden broke down the blindside and fed prop forward James O'Reilly, showing exceptional pace,

O'Reilly made over 40 yards, before popping a reverse pass out of the last tackle to de Kooker, who finished off the move scoring under the posts.

Further tries from wing Alex Miller, a fine kick and chase by centre Ray Smart and a try on his debut from Chris Fletcher after being put through by centre Pavel Czarnecki sealed a fine victory.

Bailey kicked six conversions.

The stand-in skipper was delighted with the morning's work.

'We have been threatening to beat a side like this all season and even the JRA games we have lost, had we held passes we would be sitting top of the league now.'

'The performance of the pack today was outstanding. They gave the backs the platform they needed to perform.'

The Guernsey seconds continue their JRA League campaign on Sunday with a trip to play Mitie Beeches in Jersey, as do St Jacques who host United Banks at the KGV.

* UNITED BANKS are again top of the JRA League following a hard-fought victory over Mitie Beeches at Les Quennevais on Sunday.

Banks, who were temporarily dislodged from top spot by Jersey RFC 2nds' thumping 56-0 victory over Les Quennevais RFC earlier in the afternoon, were made to work hard for their 29-20 win.