Bailey's battlers dig in to keep run going

NINE points down just before half-time, Guernsey ran in four tries to nick a hard-earned 22-16 win that keeps them in the promotion mix in London Three South-West. Punished by the boot of Robbie Spearle for a series of misdemeanours in the opening half-hour, Andy Bailey's men always looked to have the means to gain the two points required and against a tough side they did just enough.

'We needed a real test and they gave it to us,' said Bailey after the final whistle.

'They were a hard team to play.

'The last four games we've played the teams near the bottom who didn't really take advantage of our errors. But Tottonians did with a superb kicker.'

All three Tottonians penalties were slotted from long distance by the wing, Spearle, the third from exactly on the halfway line.

But five minutes before half-time, Guernsey scrambled a try through scrum half Ben Le Huray near the posts after it seemed they must score on the break but threatened to lose the opportunity with some bad choices.

Nick Barton, who had earlier spent 10 minutes in the 'bin', converted from under the posts to lift the green-and-whites to within two points at the break and early in the second half Jim Regnard made a brilliant break from near halfway, stormed unchallenged for all of 40 metres and then brushed off one late challenge to go over and take his side 12-9 ahead.

Barton missed the conversion and he was wide of the posts again when prop Simon Sharratt bulldozed over in the corner from five metres to make it 17-9.

Guernsey threw on Rob Brazier for Le Huray and Dave McGall for Layton Batiste, but no sooner had they introduced fresh legs than the home side lost Jim Elliott to a worrying hip injury.

The centre was in the process of being helped off when fullback Brookstein broke 40 metres and more to score under the posts and with Spearle converting, it was all to play for again at 17-16.

But the home fans need not have worried.

A left-wing surge saw Regnard and Bailey combine to feed Barton and the Kiwi crashed over for a decisive 22-16 lead.

Dylan Chatterton made a hash of the conversion but Tottonians never looked likely to score a second try and Guernsey were safe.

Despite the win and on a day when the top four all won, Guernsey stay fourth in the table.