Jersey RFC 45
Tries: Harvey 6, 70, Syminton 14, Van Breda 28, Stocks 40, 77, Mayo 54
Conversions: Penberthy (2), Harvey (3)
Chinnor Falcons 19
Tries: Varney 17, Primmet 65, Cave 74
Conversions: Goodfellow (2)
Attendance: 450
He’s completed enough laps of the block to avoid any risk of complacency, but Jersey head coach Myles Landick allowed himself a brief smile after his side scored seven tries to register a convincing win in their final pre-Siam outing.
On a sunny Saturday at CoinShares Park, albeit with a cold northerly breeze blowing across the pitch, supporters were treated to an entertaining ten-try contest between the hosts and visitors from Oxfordshire.
Chinnor’s 1st XV had claimed the National 1 title a week earlier and will play Championship rugby next season, but with the exception of a few fringe players, their Falcons line-up was a 2nd XV showing a decent mix of youth and experience.
“Don’t let ‘em settle” was the Jersey maxim after the game kicked off, and the Falcons’ defence was put under early pressure, culminating in some quick hands that enabled Sam Harvey to cross in the Jersey Bowl corner.
Having added an excellent conversion across the wind, Aaron Penberthy’s next kick also harnessed the conditions to good effect. The fly-half spotted space out wide and deftly landed a 40-metres cross-kick in the arms of George Willmott, who was able to slip the ball inside to debutant Gene Syminton for the second try.
Syminton and former Jersey Red Max Ayling, two new signings who were registered too late to feature in the league season, both played 80 minutes in a bid to force their way into Landick’s thoughts for the Siam.
Chinnor got a try back through centre Jake Varney, but were then cut open by the combination of Scott Van Breda and Charlie Hubert, who worked a pacy one-two from inside their own half that finished with a try for ‘SVB’.
The hosts finished the half in the ascendency and registered a fourth try with the final play as a long pass was thrown to Dylan Stocks for the easiest of finishes.
Landick was able to withdraw several of his key players from the fray during the second half, but those who were introduced were able to keep up a good tempo.
Tim Corson was enjoying himself in open play, and twice the flanker gave scoring passes to grateful team-mates: first Dom Mayo from close range after a great run from Bevan Biggs, and then Harvey for his second.
The visitors were combative throughout, claiming two more tries during the second period, but the last word was a red one, as Stocks showed his ability to finish from 50 metres as well as 50cm with a searing run to the line.
Landick said: “We got what we wanted, it was a really good run-out without any new injury concerns, and I was pleased with how we overcame a scrappy situation at the breakdown and kept the momentum going in the second half.”
JRFC (1-15): George Thomas, Gene Syminton, Tom Wilson, Max Ayling, Euan Spencer, Jack Macfarlane (co-capt), Tim Corson, George Willmott; Max Harrington, Aaron Penberthy; Sam Harvey, Scott Van Breda, Dom Mayo, Dylan Stocks; Charlie Hubert. Replacements: Jake Bates, Joe Ridgway, Nathan Thomas, James Guyatt, Tom Tilstone, Bevan Biggs, Jacques De la Bat
