BackSat 08 Mar 2025 · Counties 1 Hampshire
Guernsey St Jacques Vikings (Guernsey II)
Dolphins
34
45
What a day!
Arthur Rabjohn10 Mar - 07:52
A game of two halves and Havant dog needed to wrestle it back from 24-7 down at half time.
Dolphins traveled to Guernsey and the early start really didn't seem to suit them up against a Guernsey St Jacques team that has recovered from injuries and is going well. Ethan Pernia got them started with a try converted by Chris Buckett. Munashe Sakutukwa on flank was making an impact but too many errors and penalties from team was let the home side dominate possession. Halftime 27-4 and the Havant dog was needed to pull Dolphins up off the floor and save their ambition of a perfect season.
Not sure what the coaches said but Havant came out firing but Guernsey stayed in the game. Tries by Alex Hankin, Joel MacFarlane and Patrick Warriner got them back in the game with a glimmer of hope. Super sub Joe Moore came on and the back line became a thing of beauty. Cam Davey then went over and it was no longer a glimmer 10 minutes to go and one score in it. Freddie Hayes was once again solid in defence. Chris Buckett who kick 4 more conversions was dominant at outside centre pair with Will Perry who was back on form. Captain Rory Penfold was driving them hard. Up front the pack took their total dominance at the scrums up a level as Nick Stoffel and Charlie Wright over powered their opposition. Will Double was doing what he does and making ground as back row partners Alex Hankins and Will Owen smashed the breakdowns. Then lock James Blackwell broke the defence and ran like a giraffe to go in under the posts. Dolphins took the lead 38-34 with 4 minutes to go. Having secured the kick off a wayward pass lead to a scrum for Guernsey just in Dolphins half, but again the Dolphins pack destroyed Guernsey's scrum and won the ball. Joel MacFarlane set up an attack on the right that got them over the Guernsey 10m line and then the ball went out to the left and who else but Joe Moore cuts through their defences like a salmon heading for its spawning grounds and scores to seal an incredible turnaround 45-34 win for Dolphins. 20 from 20, 100 points in the league.
This team will need this type of performance next season in Regional 2.
Havant's coming up the hill!
Not sure what the coaches said but Havant came out firing but Guernsey stayed in the game. Tries by Alex Hankin, Joel MacFarlane and Patrick Warriner got them back in the game with a glimmer of hope. Super sub Joe Moore came on and the back line became a thing of beauty. Cam Davey then went over and it was no longer a glimmer 10 minutes to go and one score in it. Freddie Hayes was once again solid in defence. Chris Buckett who kick 4 more conversions was dominant at outside centre pair with Will Perry who was back on form. Captain Rory Penfold was driving them hard. Up front the pack took their total dominance at the scrums up a level as Nick Stoffel and Charlie Wright over powered their opposition. Will Double was doing what he does and making ground as back row partners Alex Hankins and Will Owen smashed the breakdowns. Then lock James Blackwell broke the defence and ran like a giraffe to go in under the posts. Dolphins took the lead 38-34 with 4 minutes to go. Having secured the kick off a wayward pass lead to a scrum for Guernsey just in Dolphins half, but again the Dolphins pack destroyed Guernsey's scrum and won the ball. Joel MacFarlane set up an attack on the right that got them over the Guernsey 10m line and then the ball went out to the left and who else but Joe Moore cuts through their defences like a salmon heading for its spawning grounds and scores to seal an incredible turnaround 45-34 win for Dolphins. 20 from 20, 100 points in the league.
This team will need this type of performance next season in Regional 2.
Havant's coming up the hill!
Further reading