DESPITE their fair share of adversity in the opening five fixtures of the young season, Jersey RFC have still picked up five wins, with Horsham next in the way for the red machine at CoinShares Park tomorrow.
Myles Landick’s men faced a stout CS Stags 1863 outfit last weekend, handing them their first loss and keeping grasp of the coattails of leaders London Welsh – just a lone bonus point adrift.
Jersey have become accustomed to breezing through games across the last two championship-winning campaigns, but Regional 1 South Central is proving a different proposition altogether.
A narrow 21-15 win over Bracknell, followed by an even tighter 31-27 success at Stags, underpinned that the Caesareans are well-equipped to grind out gritty victories and not just running riot against weaker outfits.
Last week saw the re-introduction of the experienced Max Ayling – his first outing since May’s Siam Cup.
The second-row was part of a formidable forward pack away at Stags, which Landick lauded.
“It’s the most dominant performance from our pack I’ve seen in a long time.
“Nearly every scrum resulted in a penalty for us. That won us the game in the end.
“We would stick the resulting penalty into the corner and from there, we grabbed three tries in eight minutes from the mauls that followed.”
While club captain Evan Whitson is still a couple games away from full fitness and the talented Scott Van Breda also remains sidelined, Ethan Huish, who made his debut last weekend, retains his spot in the starting line-up, this time at full-back in the absence of Mark Boarer.
There is also room for another academy product in PJ Dodge.
The former Jersey RFC Colts captain slots in at blindside flanker, as Landick continues to offer spots to those who impress in training.
“I’m really excited for PJ,” added Landick. “He’s in his second year at university, but he’s back in Jersey for a placement year.
“He’s come in at the start of the season, in a position that’s so strong for us and has worked his socks off.
“He deserves the start and we are all really happy for him.
“Ethan [Huish] continues, and Cal Cuthbert is in the matchday squad again.
“There is a brilliant mix of youth and experience and once again it shows to the youngsters that the pathway to progress is there.
“Getting these home-grown lads playing first team rugby at this level is absolutely amazing.”
While there was obvious disappointment at not securing the bonus-point win against Bracknell, it remains the Islanders only “blemish” against their record this season.
Given the injury struggles both ahead of matchday and during warm-ups, the coach expressed his pride at how his charges have adapted.
“The entire squad deserve a lot of credit,” Landick continued.
“They have been able to adapt and change around at the last minute and just embrace whatever role has been asked of them.
“We have tried to ensure that the everyone involved is up the standard of this league, so when called upon, we can manage.
“And they have all stepped up. The benefit is that a fair few have had decent game time, which means they are match ready when needed.”
Opposition wise, Horsham have been a side on the improve.
Opening the campaign with three losses in succession, the men from West Sussex have picked up back-to-back wins at Hammersmith & Fulham and home to Brighton.
While on paper, Jersey will enter as favourites, the battle against Bracknell proved that the Islanders cannot lose focus for a second at this level. Especially if they want to keep pace with the stout-looking London Welsh.
Action from St Peter is set to get underway at 3pm tomorrow.
Jersey RFC to face Horsham [1-15]: George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane, Huw Owen, Max Ayling, Euan Spencer, PJ Dodge, Tom Tilstone, George Willmott, Liam Rhodes, Daniel Hawkes, Jacques de la Bat, Dan Barnes, Nathan Rogers, Bevan Biggs, Ethan Huish. Replacements: Joe Ridgway, Cam Keys, Cal Cuthbert.
