Burton was upbeat about Jersey’s performance, for in a first half marked by errors, Jersey gave away 13 penalties in the first 40 minutes, three of which were quickly converted by the Winchester’s stocky outside-half.
‘Six minutes into the game they scored their first penalty, and after that they scored another two in a row,’ said Burton.
‘They also scored a try when their centre burst through early on in the first half.
However, in that first 40 minutes, our defence played superbly well.
Even when we went 19-0 down, I still believed we’d win.’ Winchester came into this game really wanting to win, Burton said, and from the start they made their intentions clear, playing 15-man, aggressive rugby, and causing all sorts of problems to a Jersey side which retains its unbeaten league record for the season.
And it was Jersey’s resilience which won them the game as they began to score points of their own, in the first half, before bossing the final 20 minutes of play.
‘Mark White scored a penalty towards the end of the first half, and then Marcus Nobes had a terrific run through the middle, before he unloaded the ball to Steve O’Brien who linked with Andy Whelan, and received the ball back from him to score,’ said Burton.
‘So at the stroke of half-time it was 19-10 to them.
But I never believed we’d lose.’ Burton’s faith in his team was echoed by the crowd who, for the first half at least, had been vociferous in cheering their own team on.
However, for most of the second half they were silent.
Jersey enjoyed more possession during that period and stole the game away.
‘Ten minutes into the second half they failed to kick the ball into touch.
Matt Davenport-Brown took the ball on, into a ruck, and from that Gareth Jeffreys scored with opportunies outside him, to pass the ball.
The score was then 19-15, but we looked the better team,’ Burton added.
So the game was edging Jersey’s way; and it was no surprise when they scored their next try, ten minutes later, when flanker Brett Els broke the gain line and fed the ball back, where scrum-half Dave Miles, running in midfield, eventually passed to Davenport-Brown who muscled his way under the posts.
Following the conversion Jersey were 22-19 in the lead, and were to extend that lead further, following another Mark White penalty in the closing moments.
‘It was a tight, physical game, but what pleased me most was the way we contained them, and then dominated them in the last quarter of the match,’ Burton said.
‘I’m pleased by this team, and the fitness, and the mental hardness and commitment they show.
The side have matured.
It’s a pleasure to coach them at the moment.’ Jersey: M Nobes, D Snook, J Chamier, D McAllister, R Quirk (M Banahan), R Griffiths, I Henderson, B Els, D Miles, M White, M Davenport-Brown, S O’Brien, A Whelan, R Finch, G Jeffreys.
Insinger de Beaufort sponsor Jersey RFC.
A young Jersey RFC 2nds team overcame United Banks 34-19 at Grainville yesterday afternoon to move to the top of the Jersey Rugby Association Emeraude Lines League.
Banks remain third, just behind Guernsey RFC 2nds.
Jersey RFC Youth will now play their Hampshire Cup quarter-final against Basingstoke next Sunday, 2 pm at St Peter.
