Playing at Les Quennevais, the Beeches won through solid defence when they were under sustained pressure with 20 minutes to go, and a pack which on more than one occasion had the home side scrabbling back.The first try came from pack pressure when Andy Dawson picked up from the base of the scrum and powered over.Peter Stockley converted.The Beeches deserved to go ahead but, in the threes, Les Quennevais looked more composed and with more possession could have scored more than the one try, again in the first half, when a good passing sequence led to centre Matt Smith touching down.In a tight game when defence was the key, the score was 7-5 at half-time with just one more try to come, when James Minter was able to pick up from two yards out after the rest of the Beeches’ pack had done all the hard work.From wide out on the touchline Stockley converted before the war of attrition continued, with Les Quennevais raising their game and laying siege to the Beeches’ line.However, having lost only one game this season, the Beeches are a formidable defensive outfit and they kept the westerners at bay until John Gleave blew the final whistle.Meanwhile at St Peter Guernsey 2nds, fielding a massive pack, were beaten 14-7 in an entertaining match which saw Jersey 2nds’ No 8, Andy Allan, lead by example as he scored the first try and, with flanker Paul Maltby, repeatedly tackled anyone who threatened to cross the game line.Despite the occasional illegal use of the boot by Guernsey, the Jersey pack kept its discipline and Allan deserved his try, converted by Phil Walker.The home side then went 14-0 up following a piece of individual skill by winger Matt Turner, who constantly looked a threat when he had the ball.Despite having very little space to work in he stepped outside his winger and accelerated through to score a peach of a try.Again, Walker converted.As conditions deteriorated in the second half Guernsey were to score a try of their own when, in the drizzle, and with 15 minutes to go, pack pressure freed the ball for their right winger to touch down.It was a well-worked, converted try, but it was to make no difference to the end result.Jersey 2nds won and, along with Beeches and the United Banks, look like one of the three teams who can win this league.
