This Is Guernsey

Andy Bailey (left) and Jim Elliott attempt to track the Cobham wing running at full speed. (0565793)

Guernsey 12, Cobham 17
THREE straight defeats is not the form Andy Bailey, the Guernsey captain, would have wanted his side to take into a Siam Cup showdown.

The pain of the realisation was clear on his face as the final whistle went on the final London Three South-West game of the season at Foote’s Lane on Saturday.

But, as was the case when beaten by Purley John Fisher in their penultimate home game, in losing there was nothing for Guernsey to beat themselves up about.

On another day, Guernsey might well have won to complete a superb transformation from a side under the cosh for 38 minutes of the opening period.

Through sheer pride, skill and motivation they bounced back and dominated the second.

Three penalties kicked by second-rower Nick Barton was all the home side had to show for their efforts, but with a little more precision with their passing, a victory to wrap up a decent season was there for the taking.

Bailey recognised as much.

‘We just needed a little bit of composure, but that has been the story of our season – missed opportunities.’

Two obvious moments stood out.

On the brink of half-time and with Guernsey a few yards away from the line on the left flank, Blair Campbell threw the ball into the hands of a grateful Cobham player instead of Jim Elliott’s, the intended destination.

And late in the game with Guernsey needing just one converted try to sneak it, Campbell spilled a pass just short of the line.

‘The guys played really well and we nailed them in the second half,’ said the captain, who reckoned that ‘in areas’ his side had played some of their best rugby of the season.

There was certainly an impressive fluency about much of Guernsey’s second-half play, little Divon Crouse impressing at scrum half.

But the final killer pass was not there and it is an area needing work in the fortnight leading up to the home Siam Cup clash.

Guernsey left Jim Regnard on the bench for 40 minutes and it was his arrival that finally perked up the home side after a first period in which, apart from the first and final couple of minutes, Cobham ruled with the hallmark of league champions.

Cobham arrived with a reputation for rucking teams off the park and their big pack were certainly dominant for the first 40 minutes, although Guernsey worked hard to stand their ground and keep them at bay.

But by the break Cobham were 17-3 up and seemingly cruising with three tries to the good and just one conversion from the centre McCallum.

Guernsey’s only score came courtesy of a Barton penalty.

Enter Regnard and Ben Mahy into the fray and the half-time rejig transformed the game.

Barton had kicked two penalties within 10 minutes of the restart and with Cobham regularly infringing, referee Mr Levy from Berkshire was implored by elements of the crowd to hit Cobham with yellow cards.

But when they finally did come, there were just four minutes left on the clock and replacement Mealin’s exit was soon followed by a yellow for Regnard.

With Tottonians winning, Guernsey have to settle for fourth in the table, 15 points behind the champions who lost only one game out of 22 all season.