Rugby: Reds beat Bedford Blues

What a turnaround from the fears of a relegation struggle at the turn of the year.

Jersey, who have now beaten their best-ever points record in the division (31), extended their unbeaten run (also a record) in the Championship on Saturday, albeit to a modest four games, with a two tries to nil, 17-3 victory over Bedford Blues on a heavy pitch at St Peter.

P W D L BP Pts
Worcester 15 14 0 1 14 70
Bristol 15 14 0 1 13 69
London Scottish 15 9 1 5 10 48
Nottingham 15 9 0 6 4 40
Rotherham 15 7 1 7 4 34
Jersey 15 5 2 8 8 32
Bedford 15 6 0 9 7 31
Yorkshire Carnegie 15 5 1 9 9 31
Cornish Pirates 15 6 0 9 6 30
Doncaster 15 5 0 10 5 25
Moseley 15 4 1 10 5 23
Plymouth Albion 15 2 2 11 4 16

The victory knocked Bedford out the top half, with Jersey replacing them in sixth place, now just two points adrift of fifth-placed Rotherham Titans – and only eight off Nottingham who currently occupy the last play-off spot. Both those sides have failed to beat the Reds in games since the turn of the year and are currently hitting sticky form patches.

True, it remains exceedingly tight in the middle of the table, with the gap between fifth and tenth place being just nine points, so saying it is a fluid situation is a real understatement.

What is clear, however, after tries from Drew Locke and Pierce Phillips (his first Championship score for Jersey) added to seven points from Aaron Penberthy’s boot to give the Reds a 17-3 victory, is that Harvey Biljon’s boys are on the up – with a fair amount of improvement still likely to come.

Jersey’s head coach Harvey Biljon was, once again, clearly determined not to let himself, or the players, get carried away with such thoughts, though: ‘We got caught up in that early on, so we are not doing that again. Today all our focus was on Bedford, next week all our focus will be on Plymouth. We know how difficult it is going to be, we know it’s going to be emotional, so let’s try and focus on ourselves again, and go there and put on another performance.

‘We’ve had a really testing few weeks; four games in really tough, difficult conditions, so we just need to make sure that we keep working as hard as we are. We had a week off scheduled just recently, but instead of taking that time off what the players and coaches said was “we need to make sure we don’t fall off in the second half of games” – something that was happening early on in the season. So we came in for the extra hard work and preparation. I think that sacrifice to get yourself into condition you need to is paying off.’

Aaron Penberthy kicked two conversions and a late penalty for Jersey

The South African’s view of the match, Jersey’s fifth league win of the season, indicates he believes there is more to come from his side:

‘The energy we needed to bring into those key areas of the field was vital, so it was the contribution from the whole squad, not just the starting 15, that made the difference, particularly with the conditions out there today.

Fautua Otto is set for his second appearance for Jersey. Picture: TONY PIKE

Asked about the kicking tactics used, crossfield and high hanging punts, the South African agreed they had been pre-planned: ‘We did look at contestable kicks and we looked at what we would do after the kicks. So, with regards to territory, we were able to pick up the land we were looking for, though we didn’t get to convert that into anything – that was one of the frustrations of the first half.

‘The first try was a big moment – we got messages onto the field just before that, if we get a free yard at the maul, we should play it. So the players responded and we got a great score.

‘The pitch had been in good condition, but the huge downpour we had Friday evening and Saturday morning meant we had to adapt and change, but we did that and I think the players deserved their victory.’

Pierce Phillips scored his first Championship try for Jersey against Bedford

The back line, despite the clinging pitch, were certainly lively and inter-changeable, something that pleased Jersey’s head coach: ‘I think it was exciting, with the wingers looking to get their hands on the ball. Had it not been for the conditions I think you’d have seen far more, but we did show the energy to get the ball out wide.’

Giant second-row Pierce Phillips, who scored his first try for Jersey in he second half, said:

‘It’s not often I find myself in those positions; it was just one of those things, I thought we were going over with the maul, but it spouted out right at my feet so … well, I’m just glad I got it over.’

Phillips, who played National II with Mowden Park Darlington last season, gave credit to Jersey’s coaching staff for getting him into condition for Championship rugby: ‘The coaching has been great –it’s helped bring my game on ten-fold.

Worcester 49, Rotherham 10; Bristol 52, Moseley 24; Cornish Pirates 13, Doncaster 25; Plymouth Albion 12, London Scottish 12; Yorkshire Carnegie 43, Nottingham 14.

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