Red sky at night, Jersey Hockey's delight

Piers Brandie leaps to make a save as Jersey defend a short-corner Picture: SOPHIE RABEY

It was double trouble for Jersey as they claimed the two first-team trophies, both by the odd goal, in extremely tight and hard-fought matches.

Jersey retained the women’s spoils 3-2 before the men regained the inter-insular bragging rights with a 2-1 victory decided in dramatic fashion.

The men were locked at 1-1 going into the final three minutes with Guernsey’s Tom Cashin having cancelled out Sam Watling’s first-half opener, but Jersey edged ahead when Tom Sibley scored at a short corner.

There was still enough time for Guernsey to force a short of their own, but visiting goalkeeper Piers Brandie produced an excellent save to deny Matt Stokes and Jersey could celebrate.

‘The last three or four games have been draws, even going back five-eight years, they have always been tight and they’ve often been decided with last-minute goals,’ said Reds captain Tom Millar.

‘We’ve been on the wrong side of it several times, I know how that feels, so I feel sorry for Guernsey who actually played very well today, and we rode our luck at times but we got the goal at the crucial moment and held on well despite a late corner.’

Meanwhile, the women’s game was just as dramatic, see-sawing back and forth as the Caesareans fended off a gritty Guernsey outfit intent on stealing the cup back.

Guernsey took the lead through Tash Symes before Natacha Kay and Izzy Heelis gave the Reds a half-time advantage.

Katherine Bushell pulled the Greens level again, but Heelis’ second goal proved decisive.

Jersey women’s coach Simon Watling was full of praise for the opposition as well as his side.

He said: ‘Guernsey did well to break us down and make it really difficult for us, but I really enjoyed it. It was a really good game, which went through all the emotions, which is what you expect in a game like this.’

Captain Natacha Kay was also proud of the way the side contended with the pressure of playing away.

‘Guernsey are a very good side and the pressure was on after an emphatic victory last year,’ said Kay.

‘I am very proud to captain this team. The dedicated coaching of Simon [Watling] and Ben Tait for part of the season has been great and to retain the inter insular for a sixth year is a brilliant way to finish the season.’

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