The Guernsey director of rugby cut a frustrated figure on the Footes Lane pitch side after his team suffered a 33-29 defeat to Canterbury in a competitive see-saw encounter.
There was never more than a converted try between the sides and the results was in the balance right until the final whistle, but it was eventually won by the visitors and Reynolds felt it was because they wanted it more.
‘Canterbury have got nothing to play for and had more energy than us. We’re in a relegation battle [coming into the game] and we just didn’t show the same energy or spirit – and I’ve called the guys out for that,’ Reynolds said.
‘Incredibly disappointed in my pack today. I just thought besides the scrum, they offered very little around the ground. They didn’t want to carry hard. They didn’t want to clean well, and if we didn’t have the scrum today that scoreline could have been 50, 60 points against us.
‘I think our game plan first half was ordinary. We said we wanted to go front door and we were trying to play the edge and losing possession, so there’s an incredible lot to be disappointed about what we did in that game.’
The two bonus points Raiders picked up in defeat – for scoring more than four tries and finishing within seven points of their opponents – and the fact that Bury St Edmunds beat Henley 33-28, means that Guernsey are guaranteed to be playing in National Two next season.
While that was a positive for Reynolds, he has warned his players that they still have a lot to play for this season and some will pay the price for Saturday’s defeat.
‘There’ll definitely be a few players who aren’t playing next week. Some people are going to have to sit this one out – and that might mean Siam as well,’ he said.
Vikings win
Elsewhere, Vikings got back to winning ways in dramatic style on Saturday.
They showed impressive character to come from behind to win 36-25 on the road at Bournemouth in Counties One Hampshire. Callum Gladstone was named Vikings’ man of the match on a day when he was one of the try-scorers.
Meanwhile, Guernsey Colts went down 38-33 to their Canterbury counterparts in a thriller at Footes Lane.
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