Fran Babbe enjoyed a memorable debut in the RSL at the weekend. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0664978)

GUERNSEY have won back the RSL Shield in convincing style.

The hosts won the second-team inter-insular 24-6 at the Rohais Halls, a superb turnaround from last year’s 19-11 defeat.

Included was a reversal of the 8-1 loss 12 months ago in the men’s doubles section, the only Sarnian defeat being for debutant pairing Danny Penney and Nick Abbott. Both played brilliantly all day, but narrowly lost their first match in three sets to Jersey’s top pairing of Steve McGrath and team captain Steve Rentsch.

The Sarnian men’s team was strengthened by the return of Glenn MacFarlane and Kevin Le Moigne, both back from extended absence due to injury, and the women’s with Charlotte Koller, recently returned from university, and Rachel Legg.

This added strength in depth could not be matched this year by the visitors. MacFarlane partnered Karl Abbotts and they proved too strong for the Caesareans.