Chobham face different Guernsey but still win

Guernsey 10, Chobham 13

GOODNESS knows how bad Guernsey must have been the previous occasion on which these two sides met. That fixture in November ended as a 63-0 drubbing for the Sarnians, but on Saturday at Foote's Lane Chobham found beating them a much tougher proposition.

Their joyous celebrations at the final whistle emphasised that they had been in a closely fought battle and were thrilled to take the points home with them.

'It was certainly better than the last time we played them,' was Guernsey captain Andy Bailey's immediate reaction after the game.

'They are a very organised side in defence and did not give us any change all day. To be fair to them, they played well.

'But we are a bit disappointed really because we played some good rugby and defensively I could not have asked much more of the boys.

'It just goes to show what little there is between the teams in this league.'

The early signs had not been encouraging.

For the opening quarter-of-an-hour, Guernsey played as if they were still running off the effects of too much turkey over the festive period.

In truth, they also looked fearful of another hammering.

Things seemed to be heading in that direction, too, when Andrew Walsh kicked a first-minute penalty for the visitors from on the Guernsey 22 after the hosts were caught coming in at the side.

It was the first decision to be made by 21-year-old referee Peter Coltard, a Cambridge University student who appears to have quite a future with the whistle ahead of him.

Five minutes later with Chobham playing a simple yet highly effective game of kicking to the corners and using a well-drilled pack to force their way down field, they notched their first try with Jim Berrigan taking the congratulations after a 5m catch-and-drive lineout.

When, on 11min., they were awarded another penalty well within range, things looked ominous for the home side.

But, having trouble with the ball not staying on the tee, Walsh snatched at the kick and it thumped agaisnt the post and into Guernsey hands and suddenly momentum shifted.

With ball in hand, the Sarnians were making forward progress and on 19min. they got their reward through a Jordan Reynalds penalty, which made it 3-8.

Now on the backfoot, Chobham conceded several penalties and the referee was as good as his word when indicating that the next offender would spend time in the sin bin. Number eight Ryan Gregory was that man.

However, Guernsey could not take advantage.

Reynalds' penalty attempt slipped just wide and then the final score of the half came from Chobham when, after using the maul to good effect once more, they went on the short side and Berrigan dived over for his second try.

A half-time deficit of 3-13 was hardly disastrous for the Sarnians, though, especially with the wind at their backs for the second half and they enjoyed sustained territorial and possession advantage.

So much so that Walsh became the second Chobham player to be shown a yellow card on the hour-mark.

From that offence inside the 22, Bailey sensibly chose to take a scrum with his side having enjoyed much success from that set piece compared to a misfiring lineout.

New signing Nick Barton picked up from number eight and gained a few more yards before Reynalds did brilliantly to remain calm when everything became congested.

The fly half changed the point of the attack by looping around to the right and setting up the next phase in which Guernsey beat Chobham at their own game of the rolling maul.

Laurence Hill-Tout was the man at the bottom of the pile and Reynalds added the extra two to bring Guernsey within three.

The pressure was maintained for a further seven minutes and Stephen Keywood became the third Chobham man to be given a 10-minute sabbatical by the ref for illegal tactics.

But, from a position of strength 10m from their opponents' line, one pass went horribly astray and that was it.

Guernsey were turned around, Chobham regrouped and despite 13 minutes of injury time being played, the Sarnians did not pose a threat again.

'That seemed to be our chance gone,' said Bailey of the wayward pass.

'We should have a full squad available for that and we have got to keep building on these performances.'