Guernsey Rugby Victory

The Guernsey Rugby Club had their biggest game of the season at Footes Lane on Saturday 12/03/11

The Guernseymen, who have been leading London 2 South West, were up against 2nd placed Guilford.

The Guernsey Rugby Club has lost some important games in recent weeks, but they couldn't afford to lose another one if they want to win the league.

For Guilford, it was a must-win game too with their season's ambitions also at stake.

There were no two ways about it. The Guernsey Rugby team had to win on Saturday in London 2 South West. Guernsey were top of the table and were hosting second placed Guilford at Footes Lane.

A win for Guernsey would pretty much rule out Guilford's hopes of automatic promotion, whilst a Guernsey loss would put them right back in it with only a couple of games left to play.

Guernsey were suffering with injuries again; one of the more significant absentee's was Guernsey Player coach Jordan Reynolds. With knee ligament damage, he was left barking orders with his cruch from the side lines.

It was never going to be pulsating encounter with so much on the line for both teams, but it was a gruelling battle.

Guernsey were the first to pounce. Nick Barton was on hand to kick a solid penalty between the posts.

Barton hit another penalty just a few minutes later to make it Guernsey 6, Guilford 0.

But with Guernsey only leading 6-0 at half time, Guilford were always in with a shout and got themselves back in it just after the break with a penalty of their own.

The Guernseymen then thought they had got themselves a try - then disaster struck for Guernsey. Guilford went over a try. They kicked the conversion too, meaning it was Guernsey 6, Guilford 10 with about 25 minutes still to play.

Many Guernsey supporters were beginning to fear the worst.

But just a few minutes later Guernsey were in the lead again.

After some scrappy play deep into Guilford's half, Darren Bellingham was the Guernsey hero who scored a priceless try for the home side.

Surprisingly it was Nick Merrien who stepped up to take the conversion for Guernsey, which he completed successsfully.

So with about 15 minutes to play it was backs to the wall for Guernsey.

All 15 Guernsey players put 100 per cent in to try and cling on. With seconds left to play, Guilford were agonisingly close to Guernsey's try line and it looked like the worse could happen.

Nick Barton took one for the Guernsey team, earning himself a yellow card for illegally pulling down the Guildford Maul, but stopped the visitors scoring in the process.

But Guernsey dug in deep, and the referee blew for full time much to the delight of the players, and the hundreds of Guernsey fans who had turned up for the crucial encounter.

So what next for the Guernsey Rugby Club team?... They've got two games left of the season. They're four points clear of Trojans who are now in second. They have to play Bognor away, and then the sarnians host Trojans on the 9th April.

It is as simple as this - if Guernsey get maximum points in the next two games they'll win the league and secure promotion.