FOLLOWING an impromptu week off courtesy of Storm Darragh’s cameo, it was business as usual for a dominant Jersey RFC side, who were given “license to express themselves” in a 68-10 home demolition over Hammersmith & Fulham.
Familiar faces once again topped the try-scoring charts, with hooker Jack Macfarlane crossing the whitewash four times, while Mark Boarer and Dan Barnes grabbed two of their own.
Young Callum Cuthbert, given the nod at scrum-half and Huw Owen would also add their names to the scoresheet in a highly-professional display in front of their home faithful – braving the frigid conditions to cheer on those in red.
“We spoke at length at half-time about the fact we never really kicked on in the Maidenhead game,” said head coach Myles Landick.
“That was the focus against Hammersmith & Fulham. We were fairly dominant at the break and we didn’t want to give them a sniff in the second-half. And we didn’t. The lads came out strong to put the game to bed.
“There were a couple handing errors in the latter stages, but when you have a fair few points in hand, there’s a bit more license to throw the ball around and allow the lads to express themselves.”
In a team that was a true mix of youth and experience, the debutantes acquitted themselves brilliantly.
Morgan Brady, making his first start at loose-head prop. You would be hard-pressed to know, though, and the forward, who I picked as player of the match, looked like a seasoned veteran. Meanwhile, recently turned 18-year-old Lance Armstrong enjoyed a well-rounded display on both sides of the ball.
On the other end of the spectrum, fly-half Aaron Penberthy made his first start of the season, after a brief spell away from the game flirting with triathlon.
The veteran did not miss a beat, with trademark kicking from open play, underpinned by a quite brilliant 50:22 kick leading to a try.
He would also convert nine of the ten Jersey tries to cap a successful return in Jersey red.
Landick continued: “I cannot praise the guys on debut enough.
“Lance on the wing was brave and never shied away from contact, while Morgan was incredible in his first game up front.
“Naturally Diesel [Macfarlane] will steal the headlines with a brilliant four-try day, but Morgan impressed me so much.
“To come into a position where we are so strong at, and dominate a game of level five rugby was hugely pleasing.
“Everyone that has come in has really stepped up and I think that just shows this side is much more than the 18 named on a given day.
“Players are pushing each other on and really fighting for spots in training.
“The boys will enjoy themselves tonight. But then it’s straight back to business next week away at Brighton.
“We have to be mentally switched on for that one and if we come back with a win down there, it will cap off a pretty good year for us on the whole.”
From the outset, Jersey displayed a hustle to their game, which was a early indicator of what was to follow.
Scott van Breda charged down a clearing Hammers kick, which was secured, before Penberthy’s pin-point cross-field kick found Bevan Biggs on the wing, who passed inside to Macfarlane to score.
The visitors would reduce the deficit with a penalty, before Barnes had the defence on skates to weave through and score.
When Cuthbert crossed the whitewash just minutes later after a bruising drive by the forwards, the hosts began to assert.
Boarer, who has made the number 15 shirt his own, intercepted a pass in his own half, before running the length of the pitch to score under the posts.
The Hammers would add a try of their own, through their best player on the day, Joe Carolan. The centre would convert their last points of the game and his was responsible for all ten.
Huw Owen restored the advantage, the beneficiary of a strong George Willmott run, marking his 50th cap for Jersey.
Just when I was concerned Landick’s men would go the day without a trademark try from a maul, Jersey had two in eight minutes, both polished off by top try-scorer Macfarlane.
An interesting score from Barnes followed, as the centre unexpectedly received the ball while organising the backs, pushing Jersey back 15 metres, but not to worry, Barnes chipped and chased through to score under the posts.
It was time for Macfarlane to add a fourth. Probably a maul try? Wrong.
Fed by Barnes, the hooker found himself on the wing. With two Hammers defenders thinking ‘there’s no way he’s running this from 30 metres’ Macfarlane dropped the shoulder, jinked inside and took it all the way.
Perhaps there is a future for the forward among the backs?
With the game done and dusted, Boarer crossed once more and some gritty late Jersey defence ensured that the visitors would blank in the second-half.
“I was really impressed as to how clinical we were today,” said Macfarlane.
“At times this season, we’ve done some really good things, but then maybe followed it with a forced pass or unforced error.
“We’ve been putting a massive point of emphasis on making good decisions and I think you could see that out there.
“There was more patience and the lads are thinking twice before forcing that extra pass.
“But equally, it’s about getting that balance right.
“We have some really skillful players and we still want them to have the freedom to go out and express themselves.
“Today, I think that balance was spot on, so we are very happy with the result.”
Unfortunately, any hope of leaders London Welsh dropping points to Camberley were shattered, as they stayed perfect with a 50-14 home win.
Jersey are back on the road this weekend to face bottom-placed Brighton.
Jersey RFC 68
Tries: Macfarlane 8, 45, 53, 62; Barnes 18, 58; Boarer 25, 56; Cuthbert 22; Owen 36Conv: Penberthy (9)
Hammersmith & Fulham 10
Tries: Carolan 30Conv: CarolanPen: Carolan 15HT: 38-10
Player of the game: Morgan Brady
Jersey RFC [1-15]: Morgan Brady,, Jack Macfarlane, Huw Owen, Max Ayling, Cameron Keys, Nathan Thomas, Evan Whitson (c), George Willmott, Callum Cuthbert, Aaron Penberthy, Lance Armstrong, Dan Barnes, Scott Van Breda, Bevan Biggs, Mark Boarer. Replacements: Tom Wilson, Bryn Edwards, Tom Bulfin
Hammersmith & Fulham [1-15]: Andrew Rogan, Scott van Berckel, Zak Underwood, Sebastian Rivett, Thomas Proctor, Daniel Perry, Joshua Asafu-Adjaye, Harry Bloodworth, Benjamin Dugdale, Sam Seymour, Max Dugdale, Joe Carolan, Eoin Baker, Tim Russell, Marshall Macleod. Replacements: Valerio Marcantognini, Harry Boyd, Gregor Watson
