Having lost from the last kick of the game against Civil Service last week, it came close to a reversal on Saturday, but the team resilience held fast

On the first fixture of October, with the weather taking an autumnal turn, it was not the best of days to choose to watch rugby.

An early kick-off at 14.15 and a slow start as the rain played a major part in ensuring it would be a difficult ball to play with, and led to numerous handling errors throughout the afternoon.

Thirteen minutes in and George Montgomery stepped up to slot over the first of his seventeen points of the afternoon as the Islanders were caught infringing at the break-down.

No sooner had the restart been kicked and Gs found they were on the back foot as the visitors forwards made the most of turnover ball inside the home twenty-two.

Good handling and recycling among the forwards eventually led to lock Cameron Craine touching down the first of his two tries for the opening score for Guernsey.

Scrum half Dale Rutledge added the extra points to edge in front 3-7.

Most of the game was being played in the opposition territory, but Gs were penalised on too many occasions which allowed the visitors to clear their line.

Scoring chances were going amiss and it was until the second quarter that Gs added to their scoreline, and again it was Montgomery that slotted one between the posts narrowing the difference to 6-7.

The wet ball led to a number of knock-ons and despite the huge efforts of the home pack, and some smart yards made by Gray and Moorey in the centre, it was another two penalties that put Gs ahead 12-7.

Before the whistle went for the break, Rutledge had pulled three points back for the visitors as he put over a penalty with the last kick of the half.

A dour struggle in the forwards continued from the start of the second half, with the Stevens pair continuing to power their way forward.

Scoring chances were being made as the pack sucked in the opposition, and it was Tom Goss that finished one of these chances as he crossed near the corner for 17-10.

Good ball was being spread to the three-quarter line but a stout defence from the visitors kept Gs from scoring. As the end of the third quarter went by, a kick through in the centre was followed up by the chasing Gray and Montgomery, and the slow motion video shows that it was Gray that touched down before the ball crossed the out of play line.

Montgomery added the points from the tee and Gs looked to be easily in control at 24-10.

The visitors had different thoughts on this and were quickly back into Gs twenty-two from the drop out and it was the driving force of their forwards that led to Craine's second try which Rutledge converted to 24 17.

Some slow decision making by Gs at penalty awards saw Gs lose the initiative as the game slowed down, and having chosen to kick for the line-out, this was then lost to a not straight or other infringement.

Sixty-eight minutes played and another three points from the Montgomery boot looked to have put Gs comfortably away with a ten point advantage but the Islanders other lock found space on one of the rare sorties to again touch down for the third of the visitor's tries.

When Rutledge converted the kick, to narrow the difference to 27-24, the visitors found a string determination to get the result and the last five minutes saw them enjoy their longest continuous presence in and around Gs twenty-two.

Strong defending and a disciplined approach to the break-down saw Gs keep their line in tack, holding the visitors up after they had crossed the line and forcing the knock-on that led to the final whistle and a well deserved third win of the campaign.