JERSEY RFC – 19 (Tries: Hawkes 3′, Willmott 32′, Boarer 53′. Conversion: Hawkes 3′, 32′)
Yellow cards: Bowles 42′, Higgins 61′
GUERNSEY RAIDERS – 36 (Tries: Wrafter 11′, Dawe 39′, 49′, Creber 46′, Armstrong 64′. Conversions: Parks 39′, 46′, 49′, 64′)
COINSHARES Park had everything you wanted in an inter-insular contest – big cheers, even bigger hits and tension that you could cut with a knife.
No one wants to lose this one, but today unfortunately was not Jersey’s time to shine, as it was the Guernsey Raiders that romped to a 19-36 victory.
The whole chaos of the match-up began before kick-off, with last-minute pull-outs (most notably the devastating blow of the ever-reliable set-piece specialist in Aaron Penberthy) and mounting injuries causing a real headache for squad selection.
Such chaotic and frantic circumstances would usually throw any team off their game, but not these guys. Against all odds, the boys in red mucked in and, when it came down to the match, everything seemed to start out perfectly.
It only took 10 minutes for Jersey to pull ahead, as Daniel Hawkes ran it over the line after just three minutes – what a start. He then proceeded to score the conversion, prompting raucous reactions from the atmospheric home crowd.
7-0 up in the third minute – perhaps there was still hope?
The odds were against the Caesareans and there is a reason why – the Guernsey Raiders are a very strong outfit, with heaps of experience at this high level.
Their strength paved the way to a quick response, as Joe Wrafter blasted through just eight minutes later to reduce the deficit. However, a missed conversion from Gwyn Parks meant Jersey were still in the lead.
Oddly enough, Parks just did not seem to have his head in the game when it came to conversions in the first half, missing all three opportunities.
The storyline of Jersey and Guernsey was dramatic enough, but there somehow seemed to be space for one more – the battle of the Armstrong brothers. Lance Armstrong – playing for Jersey – squared off with his brothers, Anthony and Matthew, of the Guernsey Raiders. Who would come out on top? Who would get the bragging rights?
Today’s fixture was all about the Sarnians in the end and, with that, it was Anthony and Matthew Armstrong who had the upper hand, with the former scoring the go-ahead try in the 22nd minute. Funnily enough, Matthew Armstrong also managed to add his name to the scoresheet, but we will get to that later.
Guernsey may have been ahead thinking it was their’s to lose, but before they could build on the lead, one of the match’s craziest moments unfolded right in front of our very eyes.
Jersey RFC were advancing well before Mark Boarer kicked it forward in what was a courageous move.
That set off an almighty foot race downfield, as George Willmott went toe-to-toe with his Guernsey counterpart. It was neck and neck as both scrambled for the ball, but it was Willmott who came down with it, leaping onto the ground over the try line to put Jersey back in front.
That really pumped up the energy at CoinShares Park – what an incredible try. Hawkes then nailed the conversion, making it 14-10.
We were in the half’s dying embers, but there was still time for one more play, as Guernsey hit straight back in the 39th minute with a try from John Dawe.
The score read 14-15 at the half-time break – can you get any closer? Jersey RFC were valiantly fighting for every bit of ground, but the sheer intensity and physicality of the archrivalry was taking its toll.
Three significant changes had to be made at half-time, as Huw Owen, Jake Bates and skipper Dan Barnes all came off for Joe Ridgway, Harry Baty and Freddie Earnshaw.
Although the three substitutions were ready to make their mark, those departing the field were huge losses on the pitch and it was not long before the impact of their absence was felt.
However tight it was in the first half, the second was a completely different story. The injuries finally caught up to the side and they just could not get a grasp of the game.
Matt Creber scored just six minutes after the resumption of play, quickly followed by another Dawe try in the 49th minute to push the Sarnians further ahead, while sealing Dawe his brace. Matthew Armstrong then made his mark to score a try in the 64th minute, pushing their total to 36.
There was a glimmer of hope in the 53rd minute, as Mark Boarer produced an electric moment. In a burst of pace, Boarer quickly intercepted a wayward pass and did not hesitate to make his mark, turning on the jets to sprint away and run between the posts.
However, Jersey just could not produce more of those moments, leading them to fall short 19-36.
For a full reaction, make sure to check out Monday’s JEP
