Sam Whitehead's knee injury was the only medical concern to emanate from what we all hope will be a season-changing 29-20 win over Tonbridge Juddian at the weekend.

The versatile full-back was due to see a doctor on Monday morning but coach Jordan Reynolds, who was given the perfect 33rd birthday present with that important win on Saturday, said he was hopeful that Sam would be OK.

The coach said the league table makes for slightly less painful reading after the win.

Tring, who are closest to Guernsey, got a hammering on Saturday and they are one of about five sides who are not too far away from us with half a season to play.

‘If we pick up a win on Saturday (away to East Grinstead) we will be in good shape for the new year,’ said the coach who was pleased with many aspects of the side’s play against Tonbridge, not least the back line prompted by the return of Malcolm Barnes at 9.

‘They still haven’t got the combinations right but with every game they will get better and stronger,’ he promised.

The return of Barnes offered a stark reminder of just how good the man is and what the side have been missing for so long.

‘I always had a fair idea of what we were missing,’ said the coach.

‘Yes he was brilliant but he is only at about 40-50% and he knows that too.

‘He was a class above the rest, he has got a lot to offer and will only get better.’

Elsewhere, Reynolds praised the efforts of Simi Sawene who continues his rehabilitation.

He scored a fine try against Tonbridge.

‘Throwing him in at 8 was always going to be tough.

‘We will probably move Nick Merrien there on Saturday as he has experience in that position, and move Simi back to lock and be the engine room.

‘But he offers so much and that try he scored was absolutely brilliant.’

They talk of turning points and if Guernsey ultimately surge up the National Three table and escape the drop they may look back on the 52nd minute of the Tonbridge match.

Guernsey had closed to within two points with a thrilling Blair Campbell try and Sam Whitehead's conversion kick clatters into the post.

Any other game this season the ball would have fallen back into play, but for once Guernsey had a slice of luck and as the ball flew over the home side were level at 20 points apiece and having seemingly been heading for another loss a few minutes earlier as Tonbridge surged into a 20-13 lead, the home side came alive. They believed too.

Half an hour later they were celebrating a gutsy win inspired by the brilliance of returning scrum half Malcolm Barnes, who has been sorely missed most of the year but on Saturday gave an example of skilled passing and game direction which constantly prompted a superb backline dominated by Kiwis.

And it was one of those Kiwis, young Glen Walters, who put the finishing touches to the win with firstly a penalty which took his team 26-20 ahead with just a couple of minutes left and then, in a nervous period of added time, slotted home a crisply struck drop goal from 35m which was cheered to the Garenne Stand rafters.

At the outset a positive Guernsey start was rewarded with a 30m penalty in front of the posts, but the early optimism was briefly quashed as winger Luke Sayer dropped a clanger - and the ball - and Tom Murray snaffled the loose ball and faced away to score.

Three minutes later Whitehead kicked another 30m penalty and Guernsey were back in front by a point, but the lead was again short lived as Bertie Boast dived over in the Hockey Club corner, a score converted by the spritely scrum half Michele Zinarato.

By now the Tonbridge pack were enjoying the upper hand in the scrum and with the home line out not working well, the visitors were looking threatening in the second quarter.

But three minutes before the break Simi Sawene bulldozed over with a 20m burst and with Whitehead again adding the extras it was 13-12 to the home side.

There was still time in the half for Zinarato to kick the visitors back in front and when the teams returned after the interval Tonbridge initially dominated.

The Guernsey pack were looking shattered and it was no surprise when Charlie Harding left a tiring Sawene for dead and sprinted over to score in the corner for a 20-13 lead.

The signs were ominous and Sawene was withdrawn, but the backs has been a threat from the first whistle and with 52 minutes in the clock Campbell completed a slick move and with Whitehead's kick edging over the side came alive again.

In their next attack Tonbridge were forced by a pacey Barnes to carry the ball over their own line and from the resulting 5m scrum after several hold-ups on the Tonbridge line the referee awarded a penalty and despatched a visitor to the stand for 10 minutes.

Whitehead knocked over the penalty and a 23-20 lead soon became 26-20 as with Whitehead injured and off, Walters was handed the kicking duties and did not disappoint with a late pressure penalty.

By now Sawene was back on for one more burst in which Sayer very nearly scored in the corner in front of the gym in which the home side do much of their fitness work.

The tension in the home support was understandable but it certainly was not getting to Walters who coolly and clinically put away the drop-goal attempt from distance and the points were secured.

TEAMS

Guernsey: Craine, Choules, L. Batiste, Hillier, Merrien, Martin, Le Cocq, Sawene, Barnes, Walters, Sayer, Campbell, J. Batiste, Hema, Whitehead

Replacements: Sharrott, Elliott and Brown

Tonbridge Juddian: Fitzgibbon, Bailey, O'Sullivan, Rankin, Metcalfe. Campbell, Bent, Nangle, Zinarato, Kannemeyer, Watson, Oncle, Harding, Boast, JJ Murray

Replacements: T. Murray, Farris, Sykes

Referee: M. Rozier