Guernsey away Sept 13 2025
Guernsey 22 Dorking 39
by Mozza
The Summer holidays may be over in Dorking, but not quite in the Channel Island of Guernsey where air fares and hotel prices remained eye-wateringly high season, which deterred a large number of Cocks fanciers from their annual weekend seaside jaunt.
Which was a shame because the hardy few who mustered at Guernsey Raiders’ Footes Lane fortress on Saturday were treated to a magnificent afternoon of entertainment on and off the pitch.
The Raiders, a perennial force in National 2 East, have fallen on difficult times requiring a belt-tightening of the club and 1st XV. But once again they gave a warm welcome to the select Dorking party.
If the massed ranks of Red and White supporters were absent, you would not have guessed it in the stand as Wingnut gave it both lungs at full volume from the off to once more galvanise our merry band and stir Armand’s battle-ready brigade.
And ready they were. From the off, Dorking looked sharp and focussed, probing for weaknesses and imposing themselves as Guernsey struggled to contain them. The pack, one of the biggest we’ve fielded, provided a strong platform for Tom Hardwick at 10 to dictate the game.
Prop Nick Barry got stuck into the Guernsey front row and won a penalty after just four minutes to set the tone. And when Guernsey conceded a penalty soon after for a high tackle trying to stop our tricky full back Charlie Reynolds-West, they were in full retreat as loosehead Zak Stephenson’s touchdown was not given.
It was all Dorking in the opening exchanges, openside Tom Bloomer in the midst of it all, and when a wonderful backs move swept across field to Charlie R-W, then back inside towards the posts a stray pass kept us out. It was therefore inevitable on 16 minutes that the barrier was breached for debut winger Harry Barker to race over unopposed for the first try.
It took Guernsey 20 minutes to get into our half and find some rhythm, resulting finally in a penalty kick from Ciaran McGann in front of the posts to reduce matters to 3-5. But Dorking kept their shape and were soon back pressing as Tom at 10 kept Guernsey on the back foot. From a lineout overthrow birthday boy hooker Callum Watson collected and was only just kept out as he headed for the line. Guernsey coughed up the penalty and Tom extended the lead to 3-8.
Guernsey were still in the game but on 35 minutes winger Bryan Hotston read their passing beautifully and intercepted to score from halfway. Tom’s kick put us 3-15 ahead and with our tail feathers now clearly up we pressed hard down the left through a trademark Steve Howorth bullocking run and good hands saw centre Callum Powell break through the last-gasp tackles to score a much-deserved maiden 1st XV try.
With Tom slotting the extras, Dorking went in at the interval 3-22 up. And it could have been more. Wingnut had worked his magic once again.
Guernsey, though missing players and fielding several up-and-coming youngsters, rallied and hit back with a driving maul from a lineout for a pack try to make it 8-22. The Dorking defence was tested but remained resolute and we sensibly bided our time. And we moved back into Guernsey territory with some excellent lines of running, including a quick-thinking break from busy scrum-half George Jackson which saw talisman lock Jasper King taken out off the ball resulting in a yellow for Guernsey and an easy penalty for Tom. 8-25.
And still Guernsey came at us, but still without success, as we flowed back into their 22. Under pressure, the Guernsey pack had the ball ripped away by lock Dom Samut and it span down the line for captain Will Scholes to trundle over under the posts for the bonus point converted try. 8-32.
The game was clearly now won and the Raiders crowd turned their attentions to having a cheerful wail-off with Wingnut.
Guernsey now took the opportunity to push wide and were rewarded with a converted try for Liam Welch and 15-32 as the game got scrappy. Guernsey were lucky when a Tom H long pass for Charlie R-W to score in the corner was ruled marginally forward.
Guernsey had no answer to stop the Dorking pack and their scrum went uncontested before Captain Scholes trundled in for his second under the posts, converted again by Tom. And there was just time for Guernsey’s big No20 Brad Webb to muscle over for a consolation try and a final score of 20-39. But by then Dorking had earned a good five points on the road.
And the small, but perfectly formed, posse of Dorking supporters? Well, they headed into St Peter Port for an agreeable dinner at Sorrento and a glass or two of smugness for a job well done.
DoR Armand had the following to say
"I'm really pleased with our performance on the road as we know the Guernsey is a great side and especially at Footes Lane.
If we are honest with ourselves we probably left 3 tries out there by not excting well in the Red Zone, but that said, we were playing some good rugby and pleased that the this group could experience a Guernsey trip and a Victory together so early on in the season.
Guernsey was certainly no push over and they made us work in every facet clearly will be challening teams who visit them.
Thank you to the loyal supporters who could in fact make it over the Channel on the weekend.
Barnes Next..."
Teamsheet:
Charlie Reynolds-West, Hotston, Blade, Powell, Barker, Hardwick, Jackson, Scholes (c), Bloomer, Howorth, King, Sammut, Barry, Watson, Stephenson, Rawlinson, Connor, Hole, Chambers, Falloon, Butler, Sheldrake.
POTM - Tom Hardwick
