Seconds lose to bogey team again

Guernsey Seconds 5, United Banks 7

A SECOND-HALF try from Benny van Vuuren was not enough to save the Guernsey Seconds from defeat against their bogey side, United Jersey Banks, at a soggy Foote's Lane. Banks looked to use the slight wind to their advantage in the first half, consistently pinning Guernsey in their own 22, and mid-way through the period the pressure told as Banks finally breached the green-and-whites' dogged defence after repeatedly driving for the line, with Peter Brewer touching down from close range. Richard Stevens converted.

With the soft pitch not conducive to precise goal-kicking, Carl Gardner and Stevens traded missed penalty attempts either side of half-time.

In the second half, Guernsey started to try and release their fast backs, but a strong defence coupled with the final pass going to ground or being knocked on meant they were unable to capitalise on the space being created by skipper Alec Bailey and centre Jason Batiste.

Eventually, though, a miss move in the centres put van Vuuren through wide on the right and he managed to shake off a last-ditch tackle to touch down. With Gardner off the pitch, Batiste took on the kicking duties and he missed the tough conversion attempt.

From then on Banks' defence held firm and Guernsey had to make do with a losing bonus point.

'Benny had a great game and finished off an excellent backs' move to score his second try in as many games,' said Bailey after the match.

'It is disappointing to lose close games like this, but even more so because we broke the Banks' defence on plenty of occasions and we just could not finish off.

'The guys never let their head go down, though, and we played well and kept moving the ball around right until the end.

'It was never going to be a fast-flowing game in those kinds of conditions.'

Guernsey get an immediate chance to avenge the defeat as they travel to Jersey on Sunday to play Banks in a fixture that was postponed from early December.