Guernsey RFC 19, Barnes RFC 40
THE limitations caused by Guernsey's injury crisis were in full view for all to see on Saturday afternoon at Footes Lane.
The patched-up side the hosts fielded can take plenty of credit for their efforts in the circumstances, but when players of the calibre of Blair Campbell, Nick Barton, Malcolm Barnes, Robin Le Cocq and Lewis Hillier are forced into the respective roles of water-carrier, cameraman, assistant coach and chief cheerleaders because of their injuries, you are always going to be up against it.
If things were not already bad enough, Guernsey also lost Sam Whitehead to an ankle problem early on against Barnes and he was joined on the injured list by Simi Sawene before the end of the first half to leave the home side with the proverbial mountain to climb.
'We were pretty limited to what we could have done anyway, but then we lost Sam inside 15-20 minutes and we just had to keep it very tight and not give possession away as much as we could for the rest of the game,' said GRFC head coach Jordan Reynolds.
'If we had a full strength side I think we would probably win this type of game, but I don't want to take anything away from Barnes because they are missing some guys as well but they identified our weaknesses and played really well to exploit them.'
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