Six-try Stileman stuns the Raiders

By BRIAN QUINN

Old Albanian….36

Guernsey……….28

TOM Stileman scored a stunning six tries as Old Albanian came from behind to beat Guernsey.

The right wing was instrumental in the turnaround after the Raiders' large pack bossed the early stages to carve out a 14-0 lead.

After 12 minutes, in Guernsey put together the first meaningful attack and their forwards drove Darrin Bellingham over the line for a try, which Owen Thomas converted.

Three line breaks went begging for the hosts before Guernsey's Ciaran McGann was all but given the ball to dot down a few minutes later. Thomas again converted.

Then the Stileman show got under way. Elliott McPhun, Dan Watt and Greg Lound had started to make holes in the visiting defence and the winger gratefully accepted his chance for a try. He repeated the dose after a great OA scrum as the first half wound down. Lound converted.

Stileman had notched another brace five minutes into the second period to give his side the lead and a single-handed bonus point.

Soft OAs defence let Matt Creber in for Guernsey, but Stileman crossed again with only 11 minutes played in the second half. After 20 minutes of stalemate, OAs conceded a penalty try.

Stileman then sealed the win for the home side as he completed his double hat-trick with three minutes left to play.

Stileman shone but he was backed up by hard working fellow backs and a game set of forwards.