Armstrong shines on Raiders’ homecoming

Back on the ‘main pitch’ at Footes Lane with the refurbishment work to the athletics track complete, Guernsey inflicted a 31-7 defeat on Tunbridge Wells and picked up a bonus point, too, thanks to a five-try performance enjoyed by a crowd in excess of 700.

‘When we kicked off I said to Malcolm [Barnes, assistant coach] that “there doesn’t look like there’s that many here” and then five minutes later I’ve turned around and most of the stand was full – must have been close to 800 or 900,’ said coach Jordan Reynolds.

‘It was a really great crowd. I think the game got a little bit dull in moments, but you could still hear them cheering, which was fantastic.

‘It was a physical game for sure. I know now why they were only just behind us [in the table]. They probably struggled just a little bit at scrum time and that gave us a bit of an advantage, but I can see them beating a lot of teams this year.

‘I couldn’t tell the difference between their tighthead and their No. 8 and I mean that as a compliment – they were big, strong boys and it was good to see our guys front up to that.

‘Once we got front-foot ball, we were sound. It was when we were trying to just shovel it across [we struggled]. We need to re-adapt, get back in, two picks in, set the forwards up and then find our shape after that. It’s just trying to find that balance.’

No. 8 Doug Horrocks, captain Lewis Hillier and wing Naki Veamatahau were among the Guernsey try-scorers, but it was the man who touched down twice who Reynolds picked out for special praise.

‘Matt Armstrong is playing really well,’ the coach said.

‘He has been solid for us and I almost felt like saying to their team “stop kicking it to our backs on this side at kick off because he’s taken every one”.

‘We moved him into 12 [late on] and he was solid there, too.

‘For me he was definitely one of the standouts today.’

• Match report in Monday's Guernsey Press.