THE GUERNSEY Touch Squad showed how much difference six months of training has made at the second inter-insular weekend. Although Jersey held onto the trophy, it proved much harder than last year’s inaugural competition when the Sarnians struggled to score.

In the men’s game Guernsey gave the home crowd something to cheer about when Andrew Campbell scored an early try.

With their confidence knocked, Jersey found it hard to break through the home side’s defence and it was soon 2-0 thanks to a try from Tristan Boscher.

The first half ended with a consolation one for Jersey.

In the second period, one try came from Zack Ferbrache, who added another to his impressive island total, and the other from Brendon Madey, who travelled to the Euros as team physio but stepped onto the field for the inter-insulars.

But Jersey were determined not to give up without a fight and crossed the line three times to make it

4-4 at full-time.

The game went to a drop-off whereby one player from each team leaves the pitch every two minutes until a try is scored.

It lasted only a minute when Ollie Ward scored in the corner and despite appeals from Jersey that a touch had been made, the referee declared that the ball was on the ground before the contact and Guernsey were the winners.

‘It was a great start to the inter-insulars,’ said men’s captain Dan Taylor-Edwards.

‘The training and the commitment have paid off and we have a very strong team now.

‘We were pleased with our performance at the Euros but beating Jersey today is definitely the highlight.’

In the women’s clash it was a case of David versus Goliath – Guernsey have been training for less than a month and the Jersey team are well established and have just returned from the Euros.

But despite Jersey taking the lead, the Sarnians kept their heads up and defended incredibly well.

On attack they pressured Jersey but unfortunately never made it across the try line and the game ended 7-0.

Despite the loss, captain Ali Braybrooke said the team had enjoyed it.

‘It’s been a great game and to say we have only been playing together less than a month, we put up a good fight. With more training, the score will be very different next year,’ she said.

With one win apiece, the deciding game was the mixed.

Two weeks earlier the Jersey side had made it to the finals of the Euros but lost to England.

Guernsey, on the other hand, had suffered with injuries and were three men and three women down and so borrowed two players from the men’s and two from the women’s.

‘It was always going to be tough especially without our captain, Andrew Hutton, and also without Mark Rodliffe who had defended so well at the Euros,’ said stand-in captain Nick Guy.

‘We only had two weeks together but everyone was determined to show Jersey just how strong the Guernsey side had become.’

Despite the changes to the team line-up, Guernsey played well but the experience of Jersey soon saw them cross the try line.

The hosts pulled one back thanks to Taylor-Edwards but Jersey were soon back in front.

Ferbrache scored his second of the afternoon but sadly it was not enough and the game ended 4-2, giving a Jersey a 2-1 victory overall.

Graham Parrott, from Ernst & Young, which sponsors touch in both islands, presented the trophy to Jersey.

‘It was a great afternoon of sport,’ said Guernsey team captain Hutton.

‘All the teams have played so well and although Jersey took the trophy, I am delighted with how well Guernsey have played.

‘Last year Jersey won easily but this year they had to fight. Hopefully next year we can bring the trophy back from Jersey.’