The Reds were overpowered by a fine display of controlled rugby from their high-flying opponents, whose only difficulties this weekend were of the logistical and PR variety, with around 100 supporters turfed off their charter flight due to ‘weather-related safety concerns’ on Friday afternoon.
For the hosts it was a fifth defeat of a February to forget that has sent Harvey Biljon’s side slide into the bottom half of the table for the first time this season – the run of defeats equalling the worst since the opening weeks of the 2016/17 season, albeit that three of the losses came against the division’s top two sides.
Biljon admitted that the week’s break couldn’t come soon enough for his squad, who will return to training in a week’s time looking to get their season back on track with trips to Nottingham and London Scottish either side of a home clash with Ampthill, who have been this season’s surprise package and currently lie fourth in the table.
‘I thought Newcastle were exceptional in all areas – their set-piece, their accuracy, their defence,’ said Biljon following Saturday’s 38-3 loss.
The players showed great character in carrying on trying to play rugby in the second half, but even getting across halfway was difficult – it was a tough day.’
Newcastle boss Dean Richards was delighted to see his side win in the sort of ‘old-school’ conditions in which he thrived as an influential number 8 for Leicester and England.
‘It was probably our best performance of the season so far,’ he said. ‘Our tactics were right, we executed well and took advantage of a couple of lucky breaks and a couple of mistakes by Jersey.
‘Scoring points every time we got into their 22 in the first half was important as it took the pressure off after the break – in some ways it was more difficult in the second half with the wind behind us.’
With his side remaining on course to become the first team to go an entire season unbeaten at level two since Northampton in 2007/08, Richards had the added satisfaction of a bonus point that stretched his side’s lead at the top to 13 points over nearest rivals Ealing Trailfinders.
The top two meet at Kingston Park at the end of March, after which the leaders may well have become the champions.
Match report in Monday’s JEP.
