Sugden Cup Semi Final defeat

Yet again, Guernsey were forced to make numerous changes to their line up due to both injury and unavailability, but they were boosted by the return of University students Alex Miller and David Davison.
Les Quennevais opened the scoring early on, having won a penalty in their own 22 they kicked to touch and drove a maul from the lineout well into the Guernsey half. Using quick forward phase play to suck in the Guernsey defence they created an overlap to score out wide. Despite the LQ forwards dominance Guernsey were able to make a few decent forays into opposition territory, Davison, Miller and Ben Challinor in particular making decent headway. However mid-way through the half an interception in midfield allowed LQ to extend the lead to 12-0. Guernsey were forced into changes, injured winger Challinor making way for debutant Damien Ormrod in the second row as other positions were shuffled. Both teams had further chances, but the score remained the same until the break.
Guernsey started the second half much brighter and eventually hit back with LQ being pressurised into a mistake and Richard Hile picked up a loose ball and raced 45 yards to score. LQ scored again shortly after for 19-5, before a clever backs move put Davison through, Andy Rigden’s conversion narrowing the gap to seven points. LQ extended the lead again after sustained pressure on the Guernsey line.
Another strong run from Davison made inroads deep into the LQ half before the defence scrambled the ball into touch. Quick lineout ball from Kit Hughes allowed Carl Gardner to release Bailey, who used Will Luscombe’s run to divert the defence and darted through to score a converted try. Soon after Davison intercepted a stray LQ pass and ran clear from half way, with Rigden’s conversion giving Guernsey the lead for the first time, 26-24.
With only 5 minutes remaining, Guernsey just needed to hold on. LQ chose to kick to the backs, and an unlucky bounce left the impressive Michael Sermon isolated, and LQ were able to regain possession and break through for the final converted try.
LQ were able to hold onto their lead and Guernsey were gutted to have lost out in the semi final for a seventh time.
This Guernsey second team has come a long way from the side that finished joint bottom of the JRA table last season and has played some excellent rugby along the way with many of the younger players really stepping up to the mark when needed.

Team : James O’Reilly, Callum Murdoch, Jon Le Maitre (Ben Le Noury); Kit Hughes, Leon Gardner; John Morris, Richard Hile, Carl Gardner; Andy Rigden, Alec Bailey; Will Luscombe, David Davison; Michael Sermon, Ben Challinor (Damien Ormrod), Alex Miller (Tim Jeffery)
Scorers : Tries – David Davison (2), Richard Hile, Alec Bailey; Conversions – Andy Rigden (3)

Photographs from the game are available from : http://www.rwt-photography.co.uk/ss/?ppwd=92037kcf&Action=S&id=73773002