“DEVELOPMENT and performance come before results” was the message after Jersey RFC grabbed their highest tally of points this season in a barn-storming end-to-end clash at Chichester over the weekend.
In a game for the neutrals, full of running rugby and attacking flair, Myles Landick’s side scored ten tries to beat their Sussex rivals 66-43 and make it 15 bonus-point wins so far this season.
Returning full-back Charlie Hubert and captain Jack Macfarlane both scored two tries with fly-half Aaron Penberthy kicking 16 points off the tee, while more than 100 points was racked up between the two teams at the scenic Oaklands Park ground.
Jersey’s attacking coach James Mitchell said: “I’m really happy, to score ten tries against any team is really good, and as an attack coach I thought we played some really good rugby out there.
“It’s nice that we had two young wingers – Eryk Swiech and Sam Harvey – both scoring, which is really good to see, and I’m really proud of them.
“Attacking-wise, we had a fantastic game. We work on our attack a lot in the week, and it shows and the little intricacies of our game worked really well for us.
“Lads like Cameron Queree, Nathan Thomas and George Thomas have come in and been really good players for our attack, they are fit and raring to go. And it’s really exciting for us moving forward definitely.”
While there were plenty of positives as Jersey’s win ensured they retain a 14-point buffer ahead of Winchester, the Islanders also conceded six tries and their highest points tally this season, giving them plenty to work on.
Ex-England U20 and Northampton Saints half-back Mitchell believes that is still a positive for the future.
He added: “I was really surprised, but not in a patronising way, in how well Chichester were organised and coached, particularly in attack. Some of their kicking game and some of their attack was excellent.
“Chichester’s fly-half Elliot Haydon was really good in some of his link play. They really tested us, and that’s what we want going forward.
“We don’t want to be playing teams where they just roll over, we want teams to come and fight against us as we need that for next season especially if, or when, we get promoted. It’s about development and performance, that comes before results.”
One thing that riled the 28-year-old was some of the accusations flung at Jersey from the large Chichester crowd, for which Mitchell had a sharp response.
He added: “I was chatting to a few Chichester fans on the side-line and it annoyed me that they were saying we’ve got loads of pros playing for us, and Jersey RFC is just a team of ex-pros playing for them.
“Yes, we have a few ex-pros, who retired a couple of years ago, but for me the hard work the lads are putting on, the likes of Nathan Thomas, Eryk Swiech, Sam Harvey, Dom Mayo, Tom Bulfin and Max Harrington isn’t appreciated.
“These are all local lads who are working really hard and coming on so well, so for people to turn around and say that we’re a team full of ex-pros, and it’s easy for us, is really not fair.
“We’ve got lots of young lads from the Island who are really talented rugby players.
“They aren’t getting the recognition they deserve because the win at Chichester wasn’t down to any ex-pros, it was down to lads working hard for each other – and lads who are born in Jersey, play for Jersey and fight for each other. And I thought that was massive for us.”
Chichester’s head coach Ken Dowding, a former Ospreys and London Irish prop, was full of respect for Jersey as league leaders.
He said: “It was a great game for both teams, with a lot of rugby on show. Jersey have been doing fantastic this season, winning all their games, and the lads knew it would be a tall order.”
Jersey RFC: Charlie Hubert, Eryk Swiech, Tom Bulfin, Dom Mayo, Sam Harvey, Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane (c), Tom Wilson, Cameron Queree, Nathan Thomas, Jerry Sexton, Euan Spencer, George Willmott. Replacements: Ewan Davies, Jack Preston, Liam Rhodes.
