That the 27-23 victory was shy of a bonus point was hardly relevant in the circumstances – Jersey could easily have lost this game, but sheer hard graft allied to flashes of brilliance took them over the line for a historic victory. Not only their first away win in National I, but their first competitive meeting with their 153-year-old hosts, one of the great names in world rugby history.
It’s not difficult to see why Jersey have not hit top gear yet, with their small squad, including eight or so new players trying to bed down, are already stretched with injuries. Versatility and making do could be the key aspect of this campaign, with a bewildering number of players playing out of their specialist positions in Saturday’s victory.
Coach Ben Harvey was not a happy man at half-time, though sheer doggedness had kept Jersey just three points adrift.
He said: ‘I had a bit of a go at the lads at half time. Sometimes you have to realise that you’re not in form and the only thing you can fall back on is hard work. Which they did; they worked extremely hard. This is a step up, a fast league and sides will punish you if they get enough possession – which Blackheath did.’
Full report in Monday’s JEP
