The historic 21-7 victory over a big and powerful Gosport and Fareham U18 outfit, with many of them experiencing their first defeat of a glorious season, was well deserved, and illuminated with two exhilarating tries from winger Luke Le Sueur and centre Charlie Clyde-Smith.
Jersey had led from the opening minutes, a central 23-metre penalty given for offside converted by man-of the-match Michael Le Bourgeois, and they went on to dominate the first half in terms of possession and territory.
But come half-time they still led only 3-0, mainly due to some dogged and well-organised defence from the visitors, especially in midfield.
Well though Jersey had played it was understandable that many in the crowd were worried – if you don’t score when you are on top, you are in trouble against a good side.
And Gosport were good, despite Jersey having pinned them back for long periods.
The first try was always going to be vital, and it nearly came in breathtaking fashion when Jersey declined a kickable penalty to go for a lineout.
The lineout worked well throughout the day, with good work from thrower Luke Fisher and second row jumper Alex Whitehead in particular, and on this occasion the backs were released in style with winger Luke Carney stopped just a metre short of a try in the right-hand corner.
A shimmering run by Le Bourgeois initiated a delightful attack down the left, which finished, after some good quick handling, with prop Chris Pople just failing to ground the ball.
The attacks, if not the points, kept on coming; hooker Fisher was stopped five metres out with two-men ready in the corner; a bullocking run from Clyde-Smith fed Fisher in the corner but the ball was spilled in a great tackle; and good handling by full-back Mark Livesey fed Le Sueur, but the flying winger just stepped out of play.
So, despite bossing the play it was a slightly apprehensive crowd that got behind Jersey for the second half.
It started with a carbon-copy penalty award against Gosport which Le Bourgeois again tucked away comfortably – 6-0.
Four minutes later came one of the moments Gosport coach Calvert McRoberts later identified as pivotal, when the out-of-sorts stand-off Joshua Whitehead screwed a central 25m penalty well wide of the Jersey posts, when the home side had killed the ball.
For a short while Gosport enjoyed the better of a midfield battle, but that was to change with a tremendous score.
Back rowers Joe Ellyatt and David Felton both punched forward well to put Gosport on the back foot and when the ball was released all the backs handled superbly to give Le Sueur an opening in the left-hand corner which he duly galloped into.
Le Bourgeois missed the difficult conversion, but a major score had been made – 11-0.
Immediately upon the restart Gosport’s task was made harder still when winger Ryan Davies was sin-binned for a high tackle on Fisher.
The loss of Davies for ten minutes was to prove vital, with Clyde-Smith, taking possession from scrum-half Sam Marks following another good line-out, tearing along, then around, the Gosport back line to score exactly where Le Sueur had scored.
The added bonus was that Le Bourgeois this time struck home a tremendous conversion for another two vital points.
Gosport stuck gamely to their the task and centre Connor Regan was denied a try when he was held up over the Jersey line following a tap penalty move.
Jersey were by now regularly replacing players, although the general fitness levels of the team will have delighted the conditioning coach Mick Mayo in particular.
Back on the attack Ellyat looked in to score a memorable try, but Stephen Phelan, who had made an impressive run, stepped out of play just before feeding the 16-year-old flanker.
Jersey’s final points were to come from Le Bourgeois’ boot when Gosport again stepped offside in front of their posts.
21-0 and all knew the game was safe.
Safe, but not over as Gosport’s persistence was rewarded with seven points in the closing minutes, with Regan forcing his way over and Whitehead converting.
Unfortunately there was still time for Jersey’s captain Felton to warrant an albeit short trip to the sin bin when touch judge Dave Harrison brought him to book for deliberate offside and interference at a ruck.
But moments later it was all joy on his and all the squad’s faces as referee Paul Berghouse blew for time.
Jersey had created their own little bit of rugby history – and done it in style.
Coaches Bob Shambrook, Mick Mayo and Mick Curzons, reinforced in recent weeks by Les Small and Andy Mayo, were ecstatic that all their hard work had born fruit.
Said Shambrook: ‘I’m delighted for them, of course I am.
Yet I was worried while the score stayed at 3-0.
No matter how much possession and territory you have, it’s always a worry that they can kick in a corner and grab a score.
‘But our lads were magnificent.
We’d heard from people in Hampshire that Gosport would simply win lineout ball and push us all the way up the pitch.
But we didn’t let that happen.’ Team manager Mark Fisher, who has put in many hours to get Jersey’s cup run going said: ‘The supporters were magnificent, I’m told this was easily the biggest crowd of the season here.
The boys were a credit to the club and the Island, on and off the field.
But once again I’ve got to thank the sponsors, because days like this would not happened without them.
So hats off to Moore Management, Ashburton and the Bedell Group.’ Postscript: Jersey did not actually get their hands on the real cup yesterday.
The trophy presented by the Lieut-Governor was, in fact, the Bill Lavarack Trophy from the Jersey trophy room as Petersfield, last year’s winners, were unable to get it to Gosport in time for their departure.
It will be presented at another date.
Jersey RFC Academy U18s: Chris Pople, Luke Fisher, Myles Landick (v-capt), Alex Whitehead, William Hunter, Spencer Adams, Joe Ellyatt, David Felton (capt), Sam Marks, Michael Le Bourgeois, Luke Carney, Tom Faulkner, Charlie Clyde-Smith, Luke Le Sueur, Mark Livesey.
Subs (all used) Paul Mourant, Oliver Montgomery, Ollie Harwood, Dan Lezalla, Stephen Phelan, Nick Kearns and Alistair Dickson.
Coaches: Bob Shambrook, Mick Mayo, Mick Curzons, Les Small and Andy Mayo.
Manager: Mark Fisher.
Gosport and Fareham: Ashley Burton, Thomas Russell, Robert Squire, Jason Barnes, Simon Pinhorne, Joseph |Bell, Thomas Patience, Liam Perkins; Thomas Whyld, Joshua Whitehead, Nathan cooper, Connor Regan, Kieran McRoberts, Ryand Davies, Kurtis Rogers, Christopher Clubb, Samuel Porter, Martin Grigg, James Crichton and Owen Fawcett.
Coach: Calvert McRoberts.
Manger: Colin Smith.
Match officials: Paul Berghouse, Dave Harrison, Bob Le Brocq.
