Skipper fumes over dire first-half display

ANDY BAILEY was an enraged man on Saturday. His side threw away a golden opportunity to register their sixth win of the season as they slipped to a 10-12 London Three South-West defeat at home to Old Wimbledonians.

The home side paid the price of a dire first-half performance that saw them go into the break 12-0 down.

'I'm disappointed, very disappointed,' said the Sarnian captain.

'We have got to front up and say that that was not good enough. We had quality players on that pitch who are good enough to win that game. That actually hurts more than losing 63-0,' he added.

Although Guernsey were the better side in the second half and got back to within two points of the visitors thanks to two Darren Jones tries, they were left to reflect on what might have been at the final whistle.

Bailey admitted that a few home truths had been issued at half-time.

'Personally, I felt they were allowed to lie on the ball, slow it down and deny us fast ball. We should have perhaps been harder in contact and put the boot in more, but we would have been called up for that so you can't win,' Bailey said.

Yesterday there was more disappointment for Guernsey fans at Foote's Lane as Jersey won the annual inter-insular 22-10.

However, it was a creditable performance from the home side, which left assistant coach Jon Arch 'ecstatic'.

'They gave it their all - not just today but for the last two weeks in training,' he said.

'The two clubs came together better than ever before and we rewarded the guys who put the effort in with places in the team.

'We could have put a stronger side out in terms of bringing in guys on the fringes of the GRUFC first team, but these were the players who deserved the chance and they did themselves proud.

Divon Crouse scored an excellent try for Guernsey with the rest of the points coming from Carl Gardner's boot.

Fullback Richie Stevens scored twice for Jersey with prop Ian Burrell getting a third late on and Will O'Brien kicking seven points.