At times the threes were lining up too flat while the main difference between the two teams was probably Sam (Tuia).’ Guildford’s coach, Ian Fry, then explained why he had had to select a back row of two teenagers and a 20-year-old to take on former or current professionals Latu Maka’afi, Talite Vaioleti and Kern Yates.
‘We’ve eight players injured.
We’re so short of players, we had to select a third team player for our second row.
But if we play with the kind of spirit we showed in the second half, I believe we’ll stay up.’ He was bullish in the face of eight tries scored against his side in front of a 500-strong crowd, despite the weather.
After just five minutes three tries had already been scored and converted.
First, in the second minute, winger Ryan outsprinted his opposite number to score a Jon Swift converted try.
A minute later, a long, loose pass was intercepted by Guildford No 14 Anthony Wilde, converted by their No 10, Luke Sayer.
Three minutes later outside centre Sam Tuia touched down for the first of his four tries in the match, when he scored on the right, after a huge hole opened up in front of him.
With no-one making any half-decent attempt to tackle him he eased his way to the line for a converted try.
Tries from captain Kern Yates, Tongan Talite Viaoleti and Jim Milner finished the scoring for Jersey.
‘Yeah, to score eight tries in these conditions was pleasing enough,’ said coach Barry George afterwards.
‘We’ve put everyone else away this half of the season.
All we need to do now is to do the same again in the second half.’ And, despite his obvious disappointment, Guildford’s Ian Fry was philosophical.
‘I want Jersey to go up.
I think they’re good enough to stay in London I, partly because visiting teams won’t like the thought of playing over here.
For my team, our rebuilding begins from here.
We’re a family team and the fighting spirit we’ve shown today convinces me we’re too good to go down.’
