Greens snatch win with the final play
GUERNSEY Raiders Ladies started to turn around their campaign with a victory on their first away trip of the season with the last play of the game against Cranbrook.
Two second-half tries from number 8 Rachel Merrien proved decisive for the team to come back with the points from a 20-17 victory.
The Raiders Ladies have had a difficult start to the season, with a last-minute loss to Southampton followed by a disheartening home defeat against Pulborough.
Their prospects for this game were not enhanced by traffic delays in getting to the ground but they were on it from the first whistle, picking up possession immediately when Cranbrook failed to deal with the kick off. The ball went wide but a loose pass cost a try-scoring opportunity.
The opening score went to the home side after a lengthy injury delay to a Cranbrook player and a period of concerted pressure.
They earned a penalty 10 yards out and from the tap-and-go, strung five phases together before exploiting a gap in the Guernsey defence.
From the restart GRL applied pressure and forced a knock-on, from the ensuing scrum Guernsey went wide with first phase ball and were forced into touch. Cranbrook failed to exit beyond the 22m line.
Again, Guernsey capitalised on clean line-out ball and were able to break the defensive line midfield and go left again from the ruck to get the ball out wide to Isabel Rabey who squeezed over in the corner. Ness Brown was unable to add the extras.
Cranbrook kicked deep from the restart. Raiders Ladies tried to play out to give an angle for Justeen Melbourne to kick clear, but Cranbrook were able to make a steal at the ruck and then take advantage of a poorly organised defensive line and score to make it 12-5.
Guernsey retorted by driving back the Cranbrook attack with their line speed to earn a midfield penalty. They opted to run it and Becky Travers crossed the whitewash. Guernsey initially dealt with the restart but poor discipline gave Cranbrook easy territorial gains and they were able to score again just before half time, taking their lead out to seven points,
where it remained until the interval.
The second half was pretty tight with much of the play in the middle third of the pitch. Cranbrook did manage to pin Guernsey deep into their 22 on two occasions but the defensive line was able to force errors allowing Guernsey to clear their lines and work their way down the pitch to earn an attacking line out.
Cranbrook brought down the resulting maul and Guernsey used the advantage to send Merrien over to narrow the scores.
Despite a much-improved performance there were still doubts about a Guernsey victory entering the last 10 minutes. The visitors kept working their way down the pitch and ran a penalty from halfway, but were forced into touch.
Guernsey’s set play strength was coming to the fore and although Cranbrook won the line out, they could not clear and Guernsey were awarded the scrum. They attacked from the base and after three nervous phases Merrien went over to put her side in the lead for the first time in the match.
Coaches singled out centre Marni De Freitas Alves and lock Zoe Collins for special praise on their debuts, while Yvie Coyde, making just a second appearance at scrum-half, competed well against her strong opposite number.
Guernsey: Elin Rather, Becky Travers, Jillian Smith, Jade Mahe, Zoe Collins, Fiona Power, Molly Farrell, Rachel Merrien, Yvie Coyde, Justeen Melbourne, Ness Brown, Marni De Freitas Alves, Beth Le Gallez, Isabel Rabey, Chelsie Blondel. Replacements: Megija Krasovska, Amy Fallaize.
