‘Win our remaining two home games against Beeches (28th March) and Les Quennevais (11th April) and we will be top of the league regardless of the result of our last game of the season away to Banks at the end of April,’ said a delighted coach.
The scoreline of 28-12 makes the game look far more comfortable than the reality of the match,’ said Stone.
Banks started the brighter team and were causing our backs real defensive problems right from the start so it was no surprise when they took the lead from a line break in the centres from the Banks fullback.
It allowed him to draw the last defender and put the supporting winger away after five minutes, but the conversion was missed.
We were lucky not to be further behind within the first 15 minutes as twice Banks wasted overlaps to allow Darrin Bellingham and Matt Armstrong respectively to put in try saving tackles and a Banks centre dropped the ball with the try line begging.
A reorganisation of the Guernsey backline seemed to have the desired effect, but we were still seeing a limited amount of the ball as the Banks pack were working well in retaining possession and making inroads into Guernsey territory.
So it was somewhat against the run of play when on 20 minutes Guernsey took the lead.
The Guernsey pack won a turnover 10 metres into the Banks half and a simple shifting of the ball to the wing set Taylor Quate off and the pacey youngster was able to shrug off the covering defender to score under the posts.
Alec Bailey added the conversion.
‘The score, and the way we scored it, seemed to lift us as we started to move the ball around the back line a bit more to keep it away from the strong Banks pack,‘ said Stone.
Ben Honour and Chris Ahne started making some inroads into the Banks defence and Bellingham was causing Banks problems with some strong play both in attack and defence.
On 35 minutes a run from Ahne set up a ruck on the edge of the Banks 22 and when scrum-half Bailey fed the supporting Jacob Smith, the young second rower found himself in acres of space with just the try line ahead of him.
Despite the pressure of chasing covering defenders Jacob smashed his way over the line for his first senior try.
Bailey added the extras for 14-5 lead at half time.
Guernsey could consider themselves lucky to be as far up as they were at the break, but had started to grow into the game, but a reminder of the danger Banks posed was to come within five minutes of the restart.
Guernsey had a scrum 10 metres out from the Banks line but were penalised for an incorrect bind and the resulting penalty put banks onto the half way line.
A catch and drive at the line out was to see Banks push Guernsey onto their 5m line and after a series of drives at the fringes Banks powered over to score under the posts for a converted score.
Two contrasting styles of play made up the majority of the second half with Banks using their strong line out drive to put Guernsey under pressure and Guernsey trying to counter with our young and pacey back line.
Guernsey were to get the next score with 15 minutes left to play.
A strong run from Bellingham relieved the pressure on the visitors and quick ball out to Ben Honour set the young wing away into Banks territory but was tackled 10 metres short of the line.
Good tight play from Cally Murdoch and Henry Forsey got Guernsey onto the Banks Line and veteran prop Jack Webber was on hand to power over the line.
Bailey added the conversion.
The Banks reaction was strong and they spent the next 10 minutes deep in Guernsey territory using the driving line out to great effect.
The Guernsey defence was being well marshalled by captain Leon Gardner and Russell Roberts and was able to hold Banks drives up over the line twice in quick succession. Fortunately a handling error in the Banks back line allowed Guernsey to clear the lines and work into Banks territory to win a penalty 30 metres out from the line.
Ill discipline towards the official cost Banks an extra 10 metres and Quate, who had moved into scrum-half was quick witted enough to take a quick tap with the Banks defence retreating and in disarray to score under the posts with the last play of the game.
Bailey was to mark his return from injury with a flawless display with the boot to make the final score 28-12.
‘It was a really ballsy display from our young lads,’ said the coach.
‘Banks had a bigger side than us, but I think our harrowing experience at the hands of Westcliff helped us deal with it.
‘I can’t remember the last time a Guernsey 2nds team beat Banks in Jersey so it really was a fantastic result.
‘We had to work so hard to stay in the game and keep them chasing it rather than putting ourselves under that pressure. The resilience the lads showed is an aspect of our game that is really starting to come on.
‘Everyone from one to 20 got stuck in. We still have areas to work on but that was the result we needed to put ourselves in charge of this league.
‘As well as our remaining league fixtures, we have some big games coming up with the inter insular next week where most of our lads will be involved, and Westcombe Park 2nds next month.
‘We seem to have some real momentum with the team at the moment so we’ll be looking to finish the season strong.’