JERSEY RFC’s march towards an unbeaten league season faces one of its final and sternest examinations tomorrow as the champions travel to Tunbridge Wells in Regional 1 South Central, scheduled for a 1.30pm kick-off.
Having already secured the title and promotion with a flawless 20 wins from 20, the islanders now stand just 160 minutes away from completing an extraordinary “invincible” campaign.
With only this weekend’s trip to third-placed Tunbridge and a final home clash against Wimbledon remaining, the stakes remain high despite the silverware already being wrapped up.
Jersey arrive in confident mood following back-to-back emphatic victories. A clinical 38-7 triumph away at Bracknell sealed the title, before last weekend’s dominant 66-12 home win over Camberley underlined the squad’s depth and attacking fire-power.
But head coach and director of rugby Myles Landick has made it clear there will be no drop in standards as his side prepare for what he expects to be a far sterner challenge.
“This is definitely going to be a really tough game,” he said. “I think there’s still a slight chance the team below them, Old Alleynians, can catch them in the final standings and get into the playoffs, so there’s still lots on the line for Tunbridge. They’ll be gunning for it.”
Tunbridge currently sit third with 13 wins from their 20 matches and remain firmly in the hunt for a second-place finish. Their quality was evident in the reverse fixture at CoinShares Park in early December, where Jersey were pushed all the way before edging a gripping contest 31-29.
Landick expects a similarly intense encounter this time around, continuing: “Nothing else changes really, everyone wants to be the side to beat the unbeaten team. But we have to take some confidence from last week and the Bracknell game before that and go over to Tunbridge and make sure we do a job.”
The hosts possess genuine attacking threats, including two of the league’s top ten points scorers in George Montgomery (93) and Daniel Tomanek (85). Montgomery proved influential in the earlier meeting, crossing for a try and adding points from the tee, and will again be a key figure Jersey must contain.
Physically, Tunbridge are expected to pose a significant test up front, something Landick is keenly aware of as his side look to maintain their high standards away from home.
“Tunbridge are a big, powerful unit, there’s certainly no complacency from our end, we know how tough it’ll be,” he added. “Ultimately we just have to show up on the day and deliver another professional performance.”
Jersey’s broader ambitions this season were clear from the outset: secure promotion, finish the league unbeaten, and reclaim the Siam Cup. The first objective has been emphatically achieved, the second is now tantalisingly close, and attention will soon turn to the inter-insular showdown at Footes Lane in under two months’ time.
For now, however, the focus remains firmly on completing the league campaign in style—starting with their final away fixture.
“We want to finish off our final away game with no losses, that’d be a really good achievement,” Landick said.
Team selection remains largely consistent, though a handful of players are managing injuries.
“The squad is very similar to last week, a few lads carrying some knocks,” he explained. “We’ve currently got injuries to Tim [Grey], Jerry [Sexton], Dan [Barnes] and Huw [Owen]. Hopefully we can see them return for the next game, but it’s still a really strong side and fingers crossed we come back with another win.”
