Guernsey set to add more Kiwis to team

GUERNSEY are set to be strengthened by more New Zealanders in the new year. Captain Andy Bailey revealed that newcomer Peter Miers had settled so well in the Sarnian camp that he had invited a couple of his fellow countrymen to join him here.

Indications are that one is definitely set to take him up on that offer and another might follow.

'Peter has played at a good standard in New Zealand. He is loving it here and has mentioned it to a couple of his friends back home,' Bailey said.

'They have shown an interest in coming over and hopefully it will mean us having a couple of forwards joining us in the new year.

'One of them has apparently played at NPC grade, which is a fantastic standard of rugby. But then again, there is no such thing as a bad New Zealand rugby player.'

Miers impressed during Saturday's 22-18 defeat to Tottonians, scoring Guernsey's second try which briefly established a second-half lead.

In the first half, winger Will Wyatt had touched down at the end of a fine counter attack which produced a length-of-the-field try.

Jordan Reynalds added eight points with the boot.

However, Bailey was left enraged when his side had another try disallowed for a forward pass, which he believed was the wrong decision.

But he came away from the game upbeat despite the result.

'To start with, Dave McGall and Jason Mroch did not pass fitness tests and it left us with quite a young pack, with Josh Fox brought in to play in the second row.

'Our average age was about 25, which is certainly the youngest first team squad I have ever played in,' the skipper said.

'As much as I hate losing any game, we have got to be realistic. Tots are one of the top sides in the league. We ran them close and we are all going to learn from that game.'

Bailey added that the general atmosphere in the club as a whole was improving thanks to recent performances.

'In the last six weeks or so our second team have picked up as well and we have colts coming through and impressing and they are starting to get integrated into the senior teams, which we need to do more of.

'There are certainly promising signs at the moment,' he said.

Guernsey now have a three-week break before resuming their London Three South-West campaign at home to Chobham on Saturday 6 January.