Guildford Outgunned by Clinical Old Tiffinians as Relegation Battle Intensifies

Guildford Rugby Club

Guildford Outgunned by Clinical Old Tiffinians as Relegation Battle Intensifies

Guildford 12 – 92 Old Tiffinians

Broadwater Park

28th February 2026

Team: 1 Harry Burt, 2 Jacob Jones, 3 Paddy Wood, 4 Alex Burill, 5 Ben Collier*, 6 James Coates, 7 Tom Devereux, 8 Oli Millward (C), 9 Will Craven, 10 Ben King 11 Josh Jones, 12 Tyler Pickford, 13 Alex Jordan, 14 Sergei Bjelica*, 15 Lochy Ellis-Jones

Replacements: 16 Tom Roaf, 17 Aiden Jayawickrema, 18 James Kirk*

Scorers:

Tries: Jordan, Jayawickrema

Cons: King (1)

Pens:

(*Debut)

Guildford Outgunned by Clinical Old Tiffinians as Relegation Battle Intensifies

There are afternoons when the table does not lie. Ninth against fourth carried an ominous ring before a ball was kicked, and by the final whistle at Broadwater the gulf between Guildford Rugby Club and Old Tiffinians RFC had been laid bare in unforgiving detail.

Guildford, glancing anxiously over their shoulder at the tightening relegation battle, had shown nine changes from the XV that had suffered against Winchester. Injuries and unavailability forced disruption, but there was also opportunity: debuts for Ben Collier, Sergei Bjelica and James Kirk, the welcome return of Aiden Jayawickrema, and further reinforcements in Ben King, Lochy Ellis-Jones and Alex Jordan. It was a side reshaped by necessity rather than design.

Old Tiffinians offered no indulgence.

Within four minutes the visitors had crossed for an unconverted try, a blunt early statement of intent. Three more followed in the next ten minutes, each converted with clinical efficiency. At 0–26 inside a quarter of an hour, the contest already felt lopsided.

The visitors were faster to the breakdown, more cohesive in phase play and unerringly direct in contact. Guildford, still bedding in new combinations, struggled to contain the surge. Three further converted tries and another unconverted score before the interval took the tally to a bruising 0–45 at the break. The home side had no answer to the power and precision placed before them.

After the restart, there was, briefly, something to cling to.

Five minutes into the second half, sustained forward recycling provided the platform. The pack, industrious and direct, secured clean ball and Will Craven orchestrated with composure, allowing space to open out wide. Alex Jordan finished the move with conviction, and Ben King added the conversion. At 7–45, there was at least a reminder that Guildford could build and execute when given parity.

The encouragement was fleeting. Old Tiffinians responded with another converted try, reasserting control. Yet this was Guildford’s best spell. Confidence flickered; phase play tightened. Almost immediately, continued pressure yielded a second score, Aiden Jayawickrema crossing for an unconverted try. At 12–52, the question—however optimistic—hovered: could the home side find two more and rescue respectability?

The visitors had no intention of following that script.

Ruthless in transition and punishing in broken play, Old Tiffinians ran in six further tries, five of them converted. The final whistle confirmed a sobering 12–92 scoreline, a margin that reflected not only execution but conditioning, cohesion and league position.

Context matters. Fourth place sides seldom travel kindly, and Old Tiffinians demonstrated why they remain among the promotion contenders. But context does not alter consequence. Guildford remain uncomfortably close to the trapdoor.

Next week brings a different kind of fixture: Chobham RFC, three points below them in the table. Chobham will take note of this result. Guildford must ensure it does not define them.

Now is the time for response. Pride, accuracy and collective resolve must shape the coming week. Five points next Saturday would transform the complexion of the run-in. Zero would deepen the anxiety.

The arithmetic is stark. So too is the opportunity.

#ComeOnGs

Mike Burden

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