Jersey 32 Blackheath 5
SSE National League One
By Tom Innes
A delighted Ben Harvey saw his Jersey side rise to second in the
table, just a point behind Ealing, their next opponents.
The game seemed in the balance as the hosts turned round into a
strong wind just 10 points to the good, but Jersey raised their
game and eventually finished comfortable winners.
"It was a fantastic result," said Jersey's Director of Rugby.
"Blackheath are a really good side and we had to front up. It
wasn't a huge lead at half-time but I was confident, we knew what
we had to do and the first score of the second half was
crucial."
After shipping two tries to Blackheath in four minutes at
Rectory Field in September, Jersey were again behind early when the
visitors exploited some blind-side space from a scrum and James
Stephenson dived over.
The home crowd were briefly silenced, but found their voice when
Mike Le Bourgeois slotted a straightforward penalty, and Jersey
then took the lead when quick hands to the right enabled Ashley
Maggs to cross.
Blackheath threatened to retake the lead during a spell of
pressure that was ended by a soaring 70-metre clearance kick from
Le Bourgeois, and Jersey finished the half strongly. Dai Bishop put
Nick Trower over for a try, but some handling errors and determined
defence stopped the hosts stretching their advantage.
Jersey began the second period on the front foot, kicking an
early penalty to the corner and maintaining their pressure until
Guy Thompson crashed over after a series of attacking phases.
Some excellent steals by skipper Tom Bason helped Blackheath
disrupt a Jersey line-out missing Jim Brownrigg's organisational
skills, and the 20-5 scoreline remained until flanker Dave Allen
was sin-binned for a tackle ruled reckless by the referee after the
Jersey player concerned was dropped to the ground.
The visitors conceded two more tries during Allen's absence: a
penalty try after the Blackheath pack was shunted almost 20 metres
in the course of two scrums, and Dai Bishop crossing for his first
try for the Island to put the icing on the cake.
Blackheath Coach Mike Friday had no complaints after what he
described as the most comprehensive of his side's seven defeats so
far this season.
"We got what we deserved - Jersey played the conditions and the
pitch far better than we did," he said. "It's a tough trip over
here, but there are no excuses - Jersey executed far better than we
did, especially after the break, and our players have to learn from
this."
Friday named second row Kingsley Lang as the pick of the Jersey
team.
Sponsor's MoM: Guy Thompson (Jersey)
Jersey
Tries: Maggs 24, Trower 31, Thompson 48, Penalty 67, Bishop
71
Conversions: Le Bourgeois 31, Broadfoot 67
Penalty: Le Bourgeois 12
Blackheath
Try: Stephenson 3
HT: 15-5
Attendance: 1,729
Jersey: Copsey, Maggs, Bishop, Sanders, Dawson,
Le Bourgeois, McCormack, Landick, Felton, Evans, Hannay, Lang, Bell
(capt), Thompson, Trower. Replacements: Maddocks, Clyde-Smith,
Broadfoot, Voss, Griffiths.
Blackheath: Armstrong, Canty, Humphries,
Windsor, Stephenson, Squires, Walsh, Legg, O'Meara, Brett, Bason
(capt), Dewale, Stradwick, Allen, Catt. Replacements: Woodall,
Gelman, Paddick, Raybe, Chapman.
Referee: Paul Knowles
