Reynolds is left stung by flat Guernsey performance

Worthing ran in nine tries in a 59-12 home victory over the lacklustre green-and-whites, who put in a performance against National Two East’s second-placed team that was a million miles away from that which they had produced against league leaders Blackheath seven days earlier.

‘You cannot play that well against Blackheath then put in 20% of what you did the week before against a side like Worthing – you are just going to get thrashed and that’s what happened,’ said Guernsey director of rugby Jordan Reynolds.

‘I don’t think I’ve been more disappointed with a performance this season. Bury St Edmunds was tough, but this one stung a lot more for me.

‘I’m disappointed in a fair few players who I expect better of.’

Mathew McLean scored two early tries to put Worthing 12-0 ahead inside 12 minutes before Guernsey conjured a response when Tom Teasdale managed to get his arms free out of a tackle to offload to Ethan Smith, whose try was converted by Owen Thomas.

However, by half-time the visitors trailed 31-7 as the home side ran in three more first-half tries.

Things did not improve much after the interval as Worthing scored four converted tries with the only reply coming from Smith’s second try of the game.

‘They were fairly dominant throughout,’ Reynolds said.

‘We only got in their 22 on a couple of occasions in the first half and the scoreline does reflect the match for us.

‘We were completely flat and deserved to be beaten the way we were. It was poor defence again, we fell off tackles and Worthing capitalised.’

One of the very few positives for Reynolds was the performance of Sam Boyland, who played the first half on the wing before switching to his more accustomed position of scrum-half for the second half and did well throughout.

Matt Creber and Lewis Hillier were the other two Raiders name-checked by their coach as showing the willingness to keep trying throughout and several St Jacques regulars got minutes off the bench to experience step-four rugby, but ultimately it was another very frustrating away trip.

‘We have not performed well on the road at all this season,’ Reynolds said.

‘Last season we played five away games straight at the start and won four of them, but this season we have been performing poorly on the road.

‘I would like to say this time it was because of the Blackheath game the week before, but the 15 who started were strong Raiders players and three-quarters of those did poorly.’

Guernsey are likely to have a few regulars returning to the ranks for Saturday’s home game with third-placed Dorking.