THE most momentous season in Jersey Rugby Club’s history simply lasted a week too long. And it was a deserving, high-octane Guernsey side who took full advantage to retain the Siam Cup for the first time since 1962.

The cold facts about Guernsey’s first home victory for 13 years were that they scored four tries to Jersey’s two, missed fewer tackles, conceded fewer penalties, stole possession more often and, crucially, looked to virtually everyone in the 3,000 strong crowd to be more passionate about winning than the visitors to Foote’s Lane on Saturday.

But it is one of the curses of high-level sport that it is

almost routine to explain setbacks in terms of failure to perform. So while high-flying Jersey were undoubtedly not at their best, it would be grossly unfair not to recognise that Guernsey put on one heck of a performance during the Heritage-sponsored match that, though far from a classic, was compelling from start to finish.