Yorkshire Carnegie dug deep to claim a first league win in six
attempts, while Jersey's sixth consecutive defeat sent the
Islanders into the Christmas break on a disappointing note.
After losing five league and cup games on the bounce, Jersey
started at a frenetic pace and could have scored a try within two
minutes as a series of surges by the forwards threatened the
try-line. In the end it was just three points from Jonny Bentley's
penalty, although a further five were added 15 minutes later when
Mark Foster crashed over in the corner.
The home side struggled in the set-piece, hindered by the loss
of hooker Martin Garcia-Veiga within five minutes and his
replacement Gareth Harris at half-time. The two packs were more
evenly-matched at the scrum after the break, as far as could be
discerned from the referee's interpretation, but Jersey's lineout
struggled throughout.
Carnegie used a series of penalty decisions to win field
position for an attacking lineout. When a rolling maul was dragged
down, a penalty try was awarded, and the conversion and a late
penalty by Harry Leonard helped the visitors edge ahead at
half-time.
There were just two scores in the second half, with Jersey
regaining the lead when Lewis Robling crossed after a series of
phases. When Drew Locke, who earlier had come close to scoring in
the right-hand corner, saw yellow for a needless late tackle on
Jonah Holmes, Carnegie took advantage from the resultant penalty. A
lengthy rolling maul sapped the energy from the home defence, and
then a further penalty and another maul saw replacement Walker
score, Leonard converting with aplomb from the touchline.
Back in front, Carnegie were in no mood to surrender the win and
showed control and discipline in the closing stages, while another
Jersey player, Sam Lockwood, was given a yellow card.
Jersey Head Coach Harvey Biljon said: "It was disappointing that
after all the hard work they've been putting in the boys couldn't
quite get the win. They certainly put in a performance, but we
didn't get as many points as we should have done when we were in
charge of the game, and there was some indiscipline towards the
end.
"I don't want to stand here and make excuses, but we need the
rugby gods to smile on us - when you lose both hookers within half
of the game it has a major adverse effect on your set-piece, and
that cost us dearly today."
Biljon said he hoped that the Jersey supporters would continue
their excellent support of the team in 2015.
"The supporters make a real difference and we really want to get
the wins that they deserve - I'm confident we'll be able to do that
once the New Year comes."
Jersey: Pointer, Foster, Locke, Robling, McCrea
(Jones-Davies 58), Bentley, Glynn (Dudley 64); Lockwood,
Garcia-Veiga (Harris 5, Lancuba 41), Williams, Campbell (Noone 71),
Phillips (Markham 52), Rae (capt), Hodson, Kaho. Replacement
(not used): Herriott.
Carnegie: Georgiou, Goss, Vickerman, Lucock,
Holmes, Leonard, Pilgrim; Beech (Harris 57), Nilsen (Walker J 52),
Hill (Imiolek 60), Smith, Casson (Walker C 57), Beck, Bainbridge
(Williams 65), Burrows (capt). Replacements (not used):
Dudman, Peters.
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU)
Attendance: 1,862
Man-of-the-match (as chosen by match sponsor
Comprop): Grant Pointer (Jersey)
Half-time: 8-10
Scorers
Jersey
Tries: Foster 17, Robling 55
Penalty: Bentley 2
Carnegie
Tries: Penalty Try 21, Walker C 69
Conversions: Leonard 21, 69
Penalty: Leonard 36
