Guernsey’s try-scorer Cameron Patten runs the ball back with interest at Foote’s Lane. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0920345)

Guernsey 14, Effingham & Leatherhead 3
GUERNSEY came through a real war of attrition with two more valuable points on Saturday at Foote’s Lane.

In wet, slippery conditions, entertaining rugby was at a premium and there was no hiding captain Simon Sharrott’s pride in his team as he went around giving all of them a pat on the back following the final play of the game, which produced the only try.

It was fittingly scored by man-of-the-match Cameron Patten, who capped an outstanding individual performance by putting the finishing touch to his team’s hard graft.

‘Effingham are a hard, gritty side and, as I said beforehand, it had to be a workmanlike performance from us to win today,’ Sharrott said.

‘We stepped it up and everyone in the pack, particularly, rose to the occasion.

‘The only way we were going to win that game was short, sharp runs – pick and goes – and keeping it tight because the weather was poor and the ball was slippy.

‘In the first half we did ok but we could not capitalise on our possession due to a couple of errors. The second half was excellent – we shored up the scrum and gave Shane [Savage] and Jordy [Reynolds] the platform from which they could orchestrate the game.’

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