A case of which team made the least errors

Barnes returned the visitors' kick-off with an up-and-under; Guernsey were soon penalised 4 metres inside their half. The kick gained 16 metres then the line-out was stolen. Guernsey had the ball for 5 phases before trying a chip through that was charged down. They regained and recycled twice before kicking for territory; Barnes kicked out on the full giving the visitors a line-out 7 metres past halfway. From that Guernsey went wide with 3 phases before an error gave the home team a scrum 9 metres inside their half. Under pressure the ball was got away and sent wide with wing Martey breaking through then feeding the fullback who sent centre Cornish to the posts before 5 minutes. The fullback added.

The high restart resulted in a knock-on giving Barnes another scrum 26 metres from their line. From that they went wide again; Cornish broke through and two passes put the ball back in his hands for him to touch down at the posts after 7½ minutes. The fullback added.

Barnes ran from the second restart and wing Murray made good yards; this was followed by three recycles and an up-and-under. Barnes regained before a foot in touch gave Guernsey a line-out at the opposition 10 metre line. That was thrown long and the opposition got the ball; it was kept close and Barnes’ forwards made great inroads to get close to the opposition line. After one recycle wide the Ref. went back to an earlier penalty 5 metres out and Barnes opted for a line-out. Guernsey held the drive and forced their opponents into touch 9 metres out after one recycle blind at 12 minutes. The visitors cleared to touch 16 metres from halfway; from the line-out Barnes had the ball for 3 phases before they lost the ball in a tackle 4 metres ahead. From the scrum Guernsey attacked wide and advanced almost to halfway recycling 5 times to an opposition put-in. An error after that gave the visitors another scrum 3 metres into the other half. Following that a knock-on by Barnes in a tackle was hacked ahead long to their line and touched down by a defender to give Guernsey a 5-metre scrum. They kept the ball in and when held recycled 5 times to get over but held-up. At the next scrum Barnes were penalised and the visitors chose another scrum. After first keeping the ball in it was released close to fullback Gow who went through the defence to touch down near the posts after 22 minutes. He converted.

Two kicks followed the restart leading to a Guernsey line-out 10 metres past halfway; that was stolen. Barnes kicked to the 22; the visitors ran the ball back and soon used a long up-and-under. Barnes ran the ball and got a penalty at the next breakdown. Their scrumhalf ran that and broke through before kicking diagonally towards the corner. The right wing got the ball and would have scored but for a foot in touch. From their 5-metre line-out the visitors used an up-and-under towards touch and this got them another line-out 16 metres from halfway. From this one they soon went blind and broke away to get a penalty 30 metres ahead. They kicked for a line-out but missed; Barnes kicked back then Guernsey kept the ball for 5 phases before an injury 28 metres from the opposition line. This at the half-hour and turned out to be a very serious ankle injury to a Guernsey player who could not be moved. After a long delay the game was moved to another pitch, the one nearest to the Putney end, and restarted more than 20 minutes later with a scrum for the visitors 25 metres out. Barnes' pack were pushed back a bit then Guernsey released close and got a penalty at the 22. They kicked for a line-out 5 metres out and set for a driving maul to which Barnes offered no resistance. The ball was recycled once and prop Batiste got over wide out before 32 minutes. The conversion was wide.

The restart went into touch giving Guernsey a scrum back then they were awarded a penalty at the scrum. They kicked for a line-out 20 metres out and their pack drove from there; 7 metres out they were penalised and there was a small player dispute. The defence cleared to touch 25 metres out then their pack started a drive from their line-out. They were turned over in the maul but directly awarded another penalty. They kicked again for touch to 5 metres past halfway where their line-out was thrown long and not straight. Guernsey kicked for territory from their scrum; Barnes ran back, breaking through a long way with 4 phases to get a penalty 12 metres from their opponents' line. They ran that to get another 6 metres out and a man advantage for 10 minutes then they chose a scrum. After a no.8 pick-up then 6 recycles an attempted close pass did not go to hand and the Ref. blew for halftime.

The first ten minutes of the second half were even and uneventful apart from one good breakthrough by Barnes after a turnover. That broke down at the opposition 22. After 11 minutes a series of penalties helped Guernsey to advance and led to a yellow card for Barnes, 5 metres out. The visitors opted for scrum and from it following 9 mostly close phases lock Hillier got over at the posts at the end of the 3rd quarter, taking the lead. The fullback added.

The visitors kicked back the restart and got the next put-in after Barnes ran and dropped the ball 8 metres into the other half. Kicks were exchanged before a penalty against Barnes 5 metres inside their half. Guernsey kicked for a line-out 24 metres out and from it set up a drive then recycled 14 times to get a penalty 14 metres out. They kicked for another line-out 5 metres out; the next drive was loose and the defence forced a turnover and cleared. The line-out, 26 metres out, was followed by a visitors' scrum. After that the defence forced another error and soon used an up-and-under. Guernsey soon kicked to touch 12 metres out and Barnes threw their line-out not-straight. They regained momentarily, forcing an error after the scrum, then Guernsey got the ball back when Barnes lost it. The visitors advanced a bit, then after a pass and two recycles their fly-half sent the scrumhalf over at the posts at 35 minutes

Barnes regained their restart and ran the ball with 6 mostly close phases before kicking out on the full at the opposition 10 metre line. They stole the line-out and soon quickly went wide to send Murray over wide out with perhaps less than 2 minutes left on the clock. Replacement no. 10 Morgan converted. Barnes secured the restart and set off attacking; after 4 phases a too-strong pass went into touch for the whistle.

Warm, 99% blue sky, little wind; the pitch hard.