Rugby: Mixed feelings for Biljon after draw at Clifton Lane

The Titans may have dropped from the levels that saw them reach the Championship play-offs last season, but equally Jersey showed that they are a more competitive and streetwise team as their third season at this level approaches its final stretch.

‘My feelings are mixed – we did have opportunities to get the win, but so did Rotherham, and in that sense I can’t be too disappointed’

Jersey head coach Harvey Biljon

There is still much to play for: continued good form, starting with a home win against Bedford this Saturday, would see the Island side heading towards a finish in the top half of the table. Head Coach Harvey Biljon will be keen to maintain the momentum and keep his side, who are now within three points of their 31-point final tally of the last two seasons, well clear of the relegation battle, although two of the bottom three recorded wins.

‘A draw is a pretty good result for us away from home – this is still a tough place to come and play and it was an intense contest,’ Biljon said. ‘The first half was frustrating and I think it was important that we were only four points down at the break.

‘We had made some unforced errors in the first half which made life difficult, but we weathered the storm up to the break and were then able to discuss what we would do to correct them.

Biljon’s opposite number Lee Blackett, whose side had won just once in their past five outings has similarly mixed feelings and, like the Jersey boss, frustrated by the decision-making of the match officials.

‘I think it was more a case of two points dropped for us,’ he said. ‘We created several good opportunities in the first half, but we didn’t come away with enough points.

‘Jersey should take some credit for their defensive efforts, but we are disappointed that we didn’t do enough to get the win in front of our own supporters.’

• 7 Feb: drew 20-20 away at Rotherham

• 31 Jan: won 12-10 at home to Nottingham

• 17 Jan: won 26-19 away at Doncaster

Asked about damage to his team’s chances of repeating their play-off position of last season, Blackett reverted to the ‘each game as it comes’ line – maybe a cliché, but not the worst approach when your next two games are away to Worcester and a local derby against Yorkshire Carnegie on home soil.

After six years without a drawn league match (6-6 against Shelford in October 2008), Jersey now have two this season. The result keeps the Reds in eighth place in the table, moving ahead of Carnegie, who were disappointed to lose their derby match at Doncaster by 29-16.

The Knights moved seven points of relegation rivals Plymouth, who went down 38-8 at Bedford. Michael Le Bourgeois scored two tries for the Blues, who are now three points ahead of Jersey. Moseley won a tight encounter at home to Cornish Pirates, withstanding a late fightback from the visitors to win 22-18 and remain in 10th place, one point above Doncaster.

In yesterday’s solitary fixture, fourth-placed Nottingham were destroyed 58-3 by Worcester Warriors who again knocked Bristol off top spot.