Raiders pay the price for not playing smart
BARNES came and spoilt the party.
The biggest league game yet at Footes Lane attracted a bumper crowd to the Garenne Stand and they got the epic, tight encounter a meeting of the top two in London & South-East Premier promised.
However, Matthew Cornish’s intercept try with quarter-of-an-hour remaining proved decisive as the visitors beat the league leaders 28-22 to narrow the gap at the top to just two points.
‘Like I’ve said to the boys, the better team won because we just didn’t play smart rugby and that was the difference,’ said Guernsey coach Jordan Reynolds.
‘We’ve only got ourselves to blame.
‘Yeah, we had the opportunity to win the game, but I would still say if we had sneaked that win at the end, Barnes were far the better team and I hope they continue on for the rest of the season and challenge for that No. 1 spot because they deserve it after that.’
All of Guernsey’s points came in the first half as they led 22-14 at the interval of a match which saw the lead change six times.
However, the home side were unable to find a fourth try after the break, which would have brought another bonus point – and probably victory – despite dominating possession for the last half-hour.
Full report in Monday's Guernsey Press.
