This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mollet

St Sampson’s 3, Grammar 0

A CLASSY and workmanlike team performance earned St Sampson’s School the Spiller Shield against Grammar at Blanche Pierre Lane last night. It meant a double celebration after the school’s Sigma Cup final success on Monday.

St Sampson’s enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and took just nine minutes for their supremacy to count against opponents they had beaten 2-0 in the league.

Daley Edmonds, big and as strong as an ox, fed Sigma match-winner Will Garnett just outside the area. The nippy and skilful Year 9 pupil outpaced the defence and coolly finished past Andy Rumens.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 as defender and another Year 9 lad Danny Cooley, who enjoyed an impressive game, scored from a few yards out, after Grammar failed to clear a corner.

Mark Buddle was Grammar’s most effective player and a few long range shots from his team failed to trouble goalkeeper Tom Pattimore, the half-brother of the island’s senior No. 1 Nathan.

Early in the second half, St Sampson’s almost made it three when Marcus Crittell’s well-executed shot curled just wide of the far post.

However, it was game over with 25 minutes left.

Midfielder Tom de la Mare, who had an excellent game, let fly from 25 yards but his venomous effort rebounded off the crossbar and fell kindly to Sam Murray, who buried the ball in the back of the net.

Grammar’s Blair Howitt delivered some pinpoint corners in a bid to give his side a lifeline but nobody could capitalise on them. Rumens then pulled off an excellent save to deny Murray and keep the final scoreline at 3-0.

‘I thought they edged it on the day and we gifted them a few goals,’ conceded Legg.

‘But I’m not disappointed with our boys and they did the school proud tonight. The best team won - there is no doubt about that,’ he admitted.

Ecstatic St Sampson’s assistant coach Mark Ingrouille said: ‘It was a fantastic performance by all the guys and it was great to see them play so well as a team, especially with four Year 9 boys in.’

‘The Year 9s did the double this year and hopefully the Year 10s, who have two games left, can win the double,’ he said.

Skipper Adam Dunn lifted the trophy before the celebrations began.

Teams:

Grammar: Rumens, King, Smith, Le Page, Howitt, Langlois, Breban, Buddle. Wright, Gallienne, Coleman. Subs: Plummer, Stubbington, Venosa, Jehan.

St Sampson’s: Pattimore, Ogier, Dunn, Strang, Cooley, Crittell, Ozanne, de la Mare, Garnett, Murray, Edmonds. Subs: Gilvear, Le Huray, Le Maitre, Butt, Brehaut. Referee: C. Simon.