Jersey have achieved national aclaim during their meterioric rise to the second tier of English rugby, leaving their smaller amateur neighbours behind somewhat, and are fully expected to win their fifth straight Siam. But as in any David versus Goliath match, sometimes David gets lucky.
Guernsey
Rugby, a brief history.
Officially
the club was only founded in 1928, despite strong evidence indicating the sport
was played in the mid nineteenth century, although recent claims that they have
just celebrated their centenary only add to the confusion. GRFC joined the
league structure at level ten in 1987/88 playing in Hampshire division two,
winning promotion in their first season. This was to be the highlight for some
time as GRFC struggled to compete before relegation ensued in 1992/93. During
this time they played league matches against their bigger island brothers from
1989/90 until 1991/92 when Jersey were promoted, (three seasons later in
1994/95 was the last time the two islands were to compete in the same
division). GRFC bounced back to level nine in the 1993/94 season and they
remained in that division for ten years, before successive promotions (2003/04
and 2004/05) taking them up to national level seven. Slowly becoming a force to
be reckoned with in this division, they gradually improved and achieved back to
back promotions once again in 2010/11 and in 2011/12.
2012/13
GRFC went into their first ever season in the National League
aiming for a top-four finish in National Three London and South-East, perhaps
even pushing for promotion. This was not to be the case as injury troubles
throughout the campaign left them unable to get their best side out
consistently, and subsequently they had to be satisfied with eighth place with
12 wins from their 26 games. Still an achievement for the only amateur side in
the division, their coach Jordan Reynolds is of the belief that with his best
18-man match-day squad out, his side would have been a match for anybody. They
have admitted the squad just does not have the strength in depth of others in
the division and struggled to cope, especially when ‘star names’ were missing.
Guernsey’s luck was summed up when one of their big pre-season signings, New
Zealander Villi Tosi, was injured in a pre-season warm up match in Jersey and
never got to play a league game for them. Manager Jordan Reynolds to his credit has refused to complain and
got on with the job, although he did admit in a recent interview that he was
happy the season was coming to an end after the penultimate match of the league
season where he was missing virtually a whole side. With only two wins in their
last six league matches (albeit one was a 78-9 drubbing of bottom side Staines),
GRFC do not come into this fixture in the same winning form as twelve months
ago. The playing ambition, certainly that of coach Jordan Reynolds, is
to be aiming for promotion. He just wants to keep progressing. Of course,
resources play a large part in that and GRFC are limited both in player numbers
and little funding, but with a squad as small as GRFC have, and with injuries
blighting the side, the ability to get a settled side and rhythm will always be
a massive challenge.
The second oldest cup in history, behind only the Calcutta Cup, (England
v. Scotland), the Siam has a story all of its own. Between 1910-1913, five
former pupils of Elizabeth and Victoria colleges met up while serving in the
Siam Constabulary. They decided to commission a trophy to stimulate interest in
rugby football in the islands which had been in demise due to the upsurge in
association football.
Each man contributed a sum of money before they obtained permission of the HM King Rama VI to convert the coinage into a trophy. Not only did the King of Siam give his permission, he also instructed his Royal Crown Silversmith to create a unique trophy.
The Siam Cup was brought to Guernsey by Lt. Col. C H Forty in 1920, and was presented to the Guernsey Sporting Club to be put up for competition. Unfortunately at this time no rugby clubs were actually playing the sport in Guernsey or Jersey.
However in 1928, rugby re-commenced as a sport and Forty requested the trophy be released to the GRUFC for inter-club competition. Despite this, it was not until 14 March 1935 that the cup was presented in its first inter-insular as originally intended by its five donors.
The annual competition has continued since then, with the exception between 1941-1947 because of the occupation of the Channel Islands by the Germans when it was hidden from the occupying forces who wanted it to be melted down for funds to go to the Third Reich. Quite where it was hidden is a mystery to this day. The original trophy was beginning to show signs of age, so to save it from irreparable damage the clubs now play for a near perfect replica trophy produced from a mould by renowned local silversmith Bruce Russell. The original trophy can still be viewed at the RFU museum at Twickenham.
Each man contributed a sum of money before they obtained permission of the HM King Rama VI to convert the coinage into a trophy. Not only did the King of Siam give his permission, he also instructed his Royal Crown Silversmith to create a unique trophy.
The Siam Cup was brought to Guernsey by Lt. Col. C H Forty in 1920, and was presented to the Guernsey Sporting Club to be put up for competition. Unfortunately at this time no rugby clubs were actually playing the sport in Guernsey or Jersey.
However in 1928, rugby re-commenced as a sport and Forty requested the trophy be released to the GRUFC for inter-club competition. Despite this, it was not until 14 March 1935 that the cup was presented in its first inter-insular as originally intended by its five donors.
The annual competition has continued since then, with the exception between 1941-1947 because of the occupation of the Channel Islands by the Germans when it was hidden from the occupying forces who wanted it to be melted down for funds to go to the Third Reich. Quite where it was hidden is a mystery to this day. The original trophy was beginning to show signs of age, so to save it from irreparable damage the clubs now play for a near perfect replica trophy produced from a mould by renowned local silversmith Bruce Russell. The original trophy can still be viewed at the RFU museum at Twickenham.
The deep rooted rivalry between the two islands has never been in doubt.
As you’d expect, Jersey have the most wins from this fixture, although 55-15 (with
one draw) does portray a Caesarean dominance not always apparent when the two
teams have clashed. More recent history has seen Jersey utterly dominant, since
GRFC shocked the home faithful in 2008 with a 22-13 win to retain the trophy,
despite the difference of two divisions between the sides. Jersey, again at
home, took the honours with a 36-6 in 2009, 36-0 in Guernsey in 2010 on their
way to a historic date at Twickenham, and a record 75-5 annihilation at St
Peter in 2011. Despite a 29-0 reverse in the mud at home last season, GRFC kept
their more illustrious opponents scoreless in the second half in a game that
restored the pride and meaning to a contest sadly lacking the season before.
With only eleven points scored in four contests the job facing GRFC is getting
larger by the season and one wonders that unless the rules regarding
eligibility are changed that the status quo will remain for some time. Whisper
is quietly but the GRFC faithful, whilst always wanting to win, would be happy
to keep the score respectable against a largely full time professional side
ranked 23rd in the country. GRFC still are at amateur status, and whilst
some have jobs found by the club, unlike JRFC no one actually gets paid to
play. In fact without any benefactors, the club is funded solely by sponsorship
and this season by a small admission charge.
With little scope for part-time players in the harsh Championship
environment, many of the Jersey match-day squad may not be involved in 2013/14,
whilst it is also a chance to say goodbye to former skipper Nathan Hannay
(Leeds), Michael Le Bourgeois (Bedford) and retiring Dave McCormack and Graham Bell amongst others. Another win by Jersey is expected by all, bar
the fanatically proud Guernsey-men, especially after Jersey’s season steeled in
the harshness of the Championship. A difference of three levels along with a
virtual team of full time professionals to choose from is surely an
insurmountable task. But the Siam is a one off, and for some playing in their
first Siam it may be a shock to appreciate the ferocity of today’s visitors. GRFC
may now look up to JRFC in terms of where the club currently is, but there will
be no quarter given on the pitch regardless. With the cold wet winter behind
us, the comfort of another season in the second tier secured, it should be a
day for the reds to relax, spin the ball and play some attractive running
rugby. It should, but I have a feeling that it will be a far different test to
what JRFC have faced this season, whatever the outcome, we all hope for a
better game than when GRFC last graced these shores (but obviously with the
same result)
A decade of the Siam
2002: Jersey 23
Guernsey 8
2003: Guernsey 0 Jersey 27
2004: Jersey 32 Guernsey 22 (The ninth straight Jersey win on their 125th anniversary)
2005: Guernsey 28 Jersey 24 (The smallest winning margin in the Siam Cup since 1988)
2006: Jersey 38 Guernsey 13 (A red card for Matt Banahan in his final Siam appearance)
2007: Guernsey 17
Jersey 8 (The lowest-scoring Siam since Jersey won 18-3 in 1991)2003: Guernsey 0 Jersey 27
2004: Jersey 32 Guernsey 22 (The ninth straight Jersey win on their 125th anniversary)
2005: Guernsey 28 Jersey 24 (The smallest winning margin in the Siam Cup since 1988)
2006: Jersey 38 Guernsey 13 (A red card for Matt Banahan in his final Siam appearance)
2008: Jersey 13 Guernsey 22 (Three from four and the last Sarnian win)
2009: Jersey 34 Guernsey 6 (Three tries in injury time flatter Jersey)
2010: Guernsey 0 Jersey 36 (Jersey’s 27th straight win of the season)
2011: Jersey 73 Guernsey 5 (An 11-try rout, the biggest winning margin in Siam history)
2012: Guernsey 0 Jersey 29 (GRFC scoreless for the third time in five home matches)
Number Eight
All time
leading points scorer with over 1000 GRFC points. Talismanic number eight Nick
Barton, has had another successful season high up the try scoring charts once
again. Described by manager Reynolds as a ‘Colossus in both defence and attack’
in the heavy defeat two seasons ago. The most consistent player in their ranks,
he rarely has a bad game, even whilst carrying a potentially serious injury for
much of this season.
Flanker
Influential open-side flanker Tom Pool, formerly of Bristol, has
been outstanding in whichever role he has played this season – hooker, flanker or
inside centre. Playing his last match for the Green and Whites, he along with
Barton has also featured heavily in the try scorer’s chart this season. Pool
will be leaving at end of the season to play a higher level once more.
Centre
Centre Jason Harvey, has topped the Guernsey try scorers charts
this season with fourteen. Australian Harvey signed in the summer from
Queensland Premier rugby heavyweights, ‘Brothers’, having also spent time on
the wing, Harvey has been a key player for GRFC this season.
Eight of the side – Cameron Craine (prop), Tom Pool, Lewis Hillier
(second row), Jim Regnard (flanker), Nick Barton, Blair Campbell (fly-half),
Chris Wood (centre), and Jason Harvey – played for Hampshire last week in a
41-19 win over Middlesex. Scrum half Malcolm Barnes would have been selected
too if fit, and with several more including the Batiste’s interesting the
Hampshire selectors, it shows that Guernsey rugby is in good health.
As for the GRFC fans’ favourites, that is without doubt man-mountain prop
Layton Batiste, whose barnstorming ‘runs’ always get a cheer. Many will
remember his ample frame trotting manfully around the park in the heavy defeat
two seasons ago after coming on as a sub. He will be keen to impress his game
on the powerful Jersey front row.
