MISSED opportunities and basic errors cost Jersey Reds a Christmas Eve win as they fell short to Ealing Trailfinders, whose win helped them retake the lead of the Championship.
The west-Londoners won 43-22 with fly-half Craig Willis putting in a man-of-the-match performance, scoring a try and getting 13 points from the boot.
Scrum-half Craig Hampson scored twice and further tries from outside centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch, wing Cian Kelleher and prop Ross Kane completed the six-try win for the reigning tier-two champions.
Harvey Biljon’s Reds’ never gave up, and got a four-try bonus point with scores from outside-centre Alex McHenry, lock James Dun, inside-centre Jordan Holgate and wing Will Brown.
Jersey’s first league defeat of the season means they slip to a point behind Ealing in the title race, with the green-and-whites also having a game in hand.
