Reds finish on a high

Reds finish on a high

The Reds, who are expected to have signed up to 16 new players for the start of the 2018/19 league season, recorded their 13th Championship victory (their best-ever) and finished with 65 points, also their highest ever – and seven more than in 2016/17.

As the Reds take a well-earned break before reporting back for pre-season training in June, they’ll look back on the Doncaster win with mixed feelings.

A hat-trick by winger Auguy Slowik on 8, 30 and 52 minutes, plus a try from scrum half Kieran Hardy, established firm control as they led by 27-7 after more than 70 minutes.

Having survived yellow cards against Slowik in the 58th and then another for hooker Jared Saunders on 66 minutes, Jersey almost collapsed and handed the initiative to Doncaster, who had improved belatedly, as full back Cameron Cowell touched down on 73 minutes making it 27-12.

At one point Jersey were cut to 13 men only and were handicapped again when centre George Eastwell was also sin-binned in the 78th.

The referee awarded Doncaster a penalty try which cut the gap to only 27-19, but the Reds, relaxing and losing concentration, and again under strength, then left wide open spaces in their defence as Doncaster added to the excitement by adding a fourth try.

The score by replacement scrum half, Tom James, was converted, so as injury time approached, the Reds’ lead was just one point at 27-26.

Remarkably, Doncaster were now in sight of a shock-win against the odds, but Jersey retained the ball sensibly, launched several raids towards the Knights’ posts and while their defence held together, the Reds were relieved when they forced a penalty in the sixth minute of added time.

Fly half Brendan Cope, who’d already kicked two conversions and a penalty, once again was accurate and confirmed victory at the end of a contest that Jersey deserved to win but had come unnecessarily close to losing.

Nevertheless, the success ensured that Jersey finished on a high after the bruising result a week ago in the semi-final of the British and Irish Cup as Slowik acknowledged:

‘I have scored a few Championship doubles but never a hat-trick and it’s so important that we won after the heart wrenching defeat in the B & I Cup. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

‘We showed character and hard work and wanted to do well when this was the last game for several players who are leaving.

‘I am staying and next season there’s no reason why Jersey can’t be up there with London Irish and Ealing in the top three. I am ambitious and so are the others.

‘Looking back on the season, we started poorly but in the middle we were decent, so the important thing is to start the new season really well. I am thoroughly excited about our prospects in 2018/19 and our aim is to put Jersey in the top three in the Championship.’

As he prepares to announce several new signings, coach Harvey Biljon says finishing again in fifth place has laid down some solid foundations for future success:

‘We are now in a good place and we can build on this next year. It has been a roller coaster of a season, but once the new players had settled in, they built a great team spirit.

‘I have to give them lots of credit. So let’s celebrate the season and all of us should take some time off. I haven’t booked a holiday yet, but I need to.’

Doncaster Knights 26

Tries: Challinor 20, Cowell 69, Pen try 72, James 73

Cons: Humberstone 20, 73

Jersey Reds 30

Tries: Slowik 9, 29, 50, Hardy 26

Cons: Cope 9, 29

Pens: Cope 23, 80

Attendance: 1,675 HT: 7-22

Doncaster Knights (1-15): Richard List, Ben Hunter, Joe Sproston, Matt Challinor (capt) (YC 60), Tom Hicks, Jason Hill, Alex Shaw, Josh Tyrell; Michael Heaney, Simon Humberstone; Curtis Wilson, Lloyd Hayes, Lesley Klim, Andy Bulumakau; Cameron Cowell. Replacements: Nick Civetta (for Hicks, half-time), Adam Batt (Hill, h-t), Tom James (Heaney 51), Colin Quigley (Sproston 51), Jack Bergmanas (List 51), Charlie Foley (Bulumakau 56), Curtis Langdon (Hunter 61).

Jersey Reds (1-15): Jake Woolmore (co-capt), Jared Saunders (YC 65), Jake Armstrong, Jerry Sexton, Uili Kolo’ofa’i, Rory Bartle (YC 60), Jake Upfield, Matt Rogerson; Kieran Hardy, Brendan Cope; Auguy Slowik (YC 57), George Eastwell (YC 72), James Newey, Tom Pincus; Scott Van Breda (co-capt). Replacements: Tom Quarrie (for Kolo’ofa’i 51 mins), Leeroy Atalifo (Armstrong 64), Roy Godfrey (Woolmore 66), Jack Macfarlane (Pincus 66), Mark Best (Newey 67), Josh Hodson (Saunders 75). Unused replacement: Alex Dolly

Kickers: Humberstone (Knights) 2 from 3; Cope (Reds), 4 from 6

Referee: Hamish Smailes; Assistants: Matt Daubney, Rob Warburton

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