‘Garenne Stand has never been louder’ says Raiders boss
IT WAS a roar heard across the island. Guernsey director of rugby Jordan Reynolds has never known a Garenne Stand cheer as loud as that on Saturday when as Jack Colbourne touched down from Ethan Smith’s chip ahead with time in the red to secure an incredible 35-31 win for Raiders over Barnes at the end of an epic encounter.
The old foes, who went into the match second and third in National Two East respectively, traded blows throughout the 80-plus minutes in a absorbing contest that was every inch the huge arm-wrestle Reynolds had predicted last week and so much more besides.
But having suffered an agonising last-gasp defeat to league leaders Tonbridge Juddians seven days earlier, Raiders were thrilled to be on the other end of such a dramatic climax.
‘Really happy with the boys, but what a contest between two good sides,’ said Reynolds, still getting his breath back after the grandstand finish.
‘I just said to the players, there’s something really building well with this group at the moment. I can tell you this, they were a lot more composed than I was on the sideline, but it just always felt like we’re in with that fight.
‘Really pleased because last week it was devastating to lose that game in the last minute.
Barnes have had that done to them today by us and that could have gone any other way.
‘As far as we’re concerned, that’s the best side we’ve faced this year by a mile.
‘I think they’re better than TJs.
‘If we keep on the same way, it could be us and Barnes at the end of the year, which are two clubs that really like each other anyway – we hate each other for 80 minutes, but we like each other.
‘They’ll feel pretty gutted about losing that because we said on the sideline, you wouldn’t begrudge them if they won that game.’
• Full match report in Monday's Guernsey Press.
