Dorking 29 (Tries: King, Sammut, Head, Powell)
Guernsey Raiders 12 (Tries: A Armstrong, Boyland)
Guernsey may have ended the year with four defeats in a row, culminating in the loss to Dorking at the weekend, but director of rugby Jordan Reynolds expressed his pride in the way his depleted squad competed against the fourth-placed side in National Two East a week after they had done likewise against Barnes.
‘Considering the amount of players we had out, I thought the performance individually and as a collective was outstanding,’ he said.
‘Before the game, their DOR was complaining to their corporate lunch that they had two players out, then we quickly informed them that we had 14 out.
‘We had some young guys out there in Fraser Kent and Felix Godet, these guys are still in their teens, and they are up against one of the best sides in the league, but they did not take a backward step.
‘It was great to see all our guys really step up to the plate.’
Raiders got off to a good start, taking the lead inside the opening 12 minutes as Anthony Armstrong finished off a fine counter-attacking try with Charlie Simmonds adding the conversion.
By half-time, the hosts had edged ahead thanks to converted tries from Jasper King and Dominic Sammut, but Guernsey were still well in the game.
Dorking extended their lead through a George Head try just before the hour mark, but Raiders responded as, after multiple phases, Sam Boyland went over to reduce the gap back down to seven points.
However, in the final 10 minutes, a Thomas Hardwick penalty and a late converted Callum Powell try sealed victory for victory.
‘Besides seven minutes towards the end when they scored a converted try and a penalty, there really was not much between the side in the game, which was really pleasing to see. We probably left a couple of tries out there, too,’ Reynolds said.
‘When you are losing games – which has not been anyone’s fault, but we are trying to cope with a depleted squad – it is easy to become disillusioned and give up, but in the last two weeks it has been the opposite to that.
‘The really pleasing thing was we were on top of them for good parts of the game, but there were two or three little moments that made the difference. Compared to where we were against Canterbury [in their previous away game], though, we were a completely different side.
‘Things really went down to the wire. A good side like Dorking, who are almost at full strength, are likely to pull away towards the end, but to be right in it going to the last few minutes was a great effort.’
Reynolds added that it was difficult to pick out individuals on the day, although he named checked one of his backs.
‘Matt Armstrong at the moment is in great form. I thought he was outstanding the week before against Barnes and he performed well again at Dorking.
‘The forwards as a collective were excellent in how physical they were against a much bigger pack. We struggled a bit at scrum time, which is unusual for us, but at the line-out we managed to stop their mauling game and when it came to the big collisions we won about 90% of them.’
Raiders now have two weekends off before they return to action on Saturday 10 January when they host league leaders Old Albanians at Footes Lane.
They are away to second-placed Oundle in their second match of 2026, but Reynolds believes they can compete in those matches, especially with a few players likely to be returning from injury.
‘If we can get three of four guys back into that squad with the break we now have, we have built some confidence over the last couple of weeks and I think we can get back into the form we had during our good run. I don’t think we are a million miles away from it now,’ said the Guernsey head coach.
‘Dorking were shaken for 73 minutes of that game, which shows the fight is still there.
‘It is a mark of the mindset of this group. We were not at our best against London Welsh or Canterbury and a lot of weak-minded teams could have allowed that to linger, but we have not done that.
‘As a group we said things are going to be hard, but we have got to stick together and work hard, which is what we have done, even if the results have not gone our way.
‘Coming off the back of the Canterbury game, I’ll admit I couldn’t wait for the Christmas break, but after the performances in the last week or so, I am really excited about getting going in January again.’
TEAMS
Dorking: Connor, Rawlinson, Barry, Sammut, King, Bird, Elbrow, Scholes, Falloon, Hardwick, Williamson, Powell, Hotston, Sanders, Coyle. Replacements: Head, Stephenson, Goodfellow, Butler, Barker.
Guernsey: Dromantas, Cantle, Currie, Godet, Croft, Welch, Rice, Creber, Rutledge, Simmonds, Smith, N McGann, M Armstrong, A Armstrong, Roberts. Replacements: Kent, Le Noury, Bray, Burger, Boyland.
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