For weeks the coach has been preaching optimism in the face of adversity and on his 33rd birthday Jordan Reynolds got the win he and struggling Guernsey RFC wanted so badly.

A thrilling 29-20 win over a side from the top half of the National Three London & SE table brings them five points closer to safety and the man who masterminded it was a brilliant Kiwi scrum half.

Malcolm Barnes was a shock starter at 9 and for 80 minutes provided a masterclass which had the coach beaming from ear to ear.

Reynolds made no apologies for misleading everyone and keeping Barnes' return under wraps.

'We wanted to keep it quiet because TJs would have targeted him.

'We'll put that down to management and you wouldn't have thought he had been away would you,' added a coach who had been tempted to play the mercurial Kiwi last week at Tring.

'There was a temptation to play him then but it was an away game and we wanted to make sure his shoulder was OK.'

Guernsey had trailed 20-13 midway through the second period but stormed back to win and gain a win that should do wonders for their confidence.

'Some of the play today was absolutely brilliant and we had to contend with some big runners in their side.

'The first 20 minutes we were brilliant and in the second 20 not so good. we made mistakes.

'But we didn't let our heads drop and we kept positive and Matty Hema was brilliant on the wing.'

As for Barnes himself, he was just glad to be back.

‘A little bit rusty’, he described his performance with laughable bashfulness.

‘It’s been a pretty tough year so it was great be back and help the side out,’ he added.

‘It can only be a positive from now on. ‘TJs’ are a mid-table side and if we can beat them that shows we can push on and escape relegation.’

To complete a thrilling day for spectators, the Guernsey U16s drew their Hampshire League clash which finished under the lights at Footes Lane, 26-26.

The home side had led 26-12 but Andover came back for a deserved draw and the visitors also had a kick for the match, but the penalty flew well wide.

More to follow on both games.