Defeated Guernsey slip back to fourth

Guernsey 6, London Irish 9.

GUERNSEY'S push for promotion from London Two South-West was blown off course on Saturday at Foote's Lane.

Visitors London Cornish leapfrogged their opponents into third place in the table following their 9-6 win to leave Guernsey four points behind leaders Tottonians.

Nick Barton had the chance to salvage a draw in the 79th minute of a try-less match, but his penalty was taken wide of the posts by the howling wind in driving rain.

Captain Simon Sharrott acknowledged, though, that his side paid the price for not taking advantage of playing with the elements in their favour in the first half, which ended 6-6.

'It is very disappointing,' Sharrott said. 'We gave away too many silly penalties in the first half and that gave us a mountain to climb in the second.

'Playing into the wind, the boys generally did well, but it was a step too far for us.

'They were tricky conditions, the ball was like a bar of soap, there were a lot of scrums and it is difficult to get anything going when it is like that.'