Going down 14-13 in Ayrshire means Jersey finish third in Group 6 behind winners Cornish Pirates and runners-up Ulster Ravens A, who the Reds beat last weekend. Jersey, playing in their away strip of blue, led for most of the game, after taking an early lead through a penalty try from the scrum. Ayr had two men yellow carded in the first half, but Jersey could not build on their 7-0 lead, with Ayr equalising with a converted try of their own just before the break.
Winger Grant Pointer hit over two penalties, the first from distance and the second from close range, to give Jersey a 13-7 base to build a victory on, but a try from Ayr’s Anderson was converted to put the Scots 14-13 up in terrible conditions.
Jersey gained a bonus point, but missed out on a morale-boosting victory before new head coach Harvey Biljon takes over team matters this week ahead of the vital Greene King Championship fixture at home to high-flying Rotherham at St Peter on Saturday.
Full report and reaction in Monday’s JEP.
