Sarnians fight back

By Aaron Scoones

A bloodied Matt Jennings lands a left hook in his rematch with Sonny Jury, which the Guernseyman won. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0540703)

GUERNSEY came from 6-3 down at the halfway stage to win the best ever Open Show on Saturday night.

Up against a tough North of England Select side, the Sarnians pulled out all the stops to give the 800 sell-out crowd at Beau Sejour a feast of action.

The Sir John Loveridge Hall was a cauldron of passion and noise as the home team took a well deserved 9-7 victory from the 16 bouts.

‘It had to be the best one ever – without a doubt,’ said Guernsey head coach Graham Guilbert.

‘From the little ones coming out at the start to Jennings at the end. We were 6-3 down at one point and managed to claw it back.

‘They were superb tonight. They’ve really done well.’

The victory was secured by Matt Jennings getting the better of Sonny Jury in the top-of-the-bill bout.

Dubbed the ‘Brawl in the Hall’ and a rematch from December’s Dinner Boxing Show, Guernsey’s number one made it two wins out of two over the former junior national champion when he was awarded the bout on points after four hard rounds.

The atmosphere was electric when the Guernseyman came into the hall and it was hairs standing up on the back of the neck stuff when the crowd sang ‘There’s only one Matt Jennings’ during the fight.

‘It gives you an extra 10%,’ said Jennings.

‘I was enjoying it. I knew a lot of people in the crowd – I was the first one in the queue for the tickets.

‘And even people I don’t know were shouting for me. It gave a massive boost.’