Jersey 31 Coventry 21
Coventry made light of the alleged gulf between levels two and
three of the RFU pyramid, giving their Channel Island hosts a
fright in this pre-season tussle.
In perfect conditions for rugby, the home side started powerfully
and looked to have scored when Grant Pointer and Mark Foster set up
Tom Brown, but the number 8's charge to the line was halted by the
referee's whistle for a forward pass.
Jersey did go ahead when Foster fed Pointer for a charge to the
line, and Niall O'Connor converted.
The home side couldn't add to their lead and half-way through the
first half, Cov's pack delivered good ball to number 8 Jacques Le
Roux who barged over. The visitors were level, but not for long -
four minutes later they took the lead when Pointer fumbled a kick
through and the ball fell to Cov winger Mark Kohler who sped to the
line. Will Maisey, an early replacement for Matt Jones, added a
second conversion.
Jersey's forward power began to tell with a series of drives -
first of all this caused a yellow card for Harry Cassons, and then
a penalty try to level the scores. Good interplay between Nicky
Griffiths and Mark McCrea almost brought another try but the two
sides remained locked together at 14-apiece when the half
ended.
Jersey's pack asserted themselves in the scrum early in the second
half, earning another penalty try, but the visitors hit straight
back with the try of the match. Replacement winger Greg Evans
finished off a flowing move with a pacy run to the line, and an
impressive conversion by Maisey levelled things up once
again.
Both sides made a raft of substitutions in the second half,
Jersey's replacements including former Academy hooker Luke
Stratford for his first team debut. One of those who entered the
fray, Ben Maidment, left soon afterwards when an alleged punch led
to a red card from referee Matt Carley.
After looking vulnerable against the rolling maul last season,
Jersey used this weapon to their benefit in the closing stages.
Twice penalties were kicked to the corner, and on each occasion a
driving maul ended with Fred Silcock touching down for the tries
that separated the sides when the final whistle sounded.
Jersey: Pointer, McCrea, Locke, Cooper, Foster,
O'Connor, Griffiths; McCarthy, Taione, Young, Campbell, Rae (capt),
Silcock, Buckle, Brown. Replacements: Felton, Stratford,
Selway, Anderson, Markham, Voss, Maidment, Williams, Dudley,
Bishop, Dawson, Copsey, Burroughs, Penberthy.
Coventry: Hodgson, Kohler, MacBurnie, Otutaha,
Clark, Jones, Barker; Borwn, Locke, Ryan, Cassons, Poole, Daynes,
Nash, Le Roux. Replacements: Davis, Price, Darkintis,
Morgan, Maree, Boyce, Tyas, Smit, Maisey, Evans, Thorne,
Myring.
Scorers:
Jersey
Tries: Pointer 6, Penalty Try 30, 48, Silcock 72,
78
Conversions: O'Connor 6, 30, 48
Coventry
Tries: Le Roux 22, Kohler 26, Evans 50
Conversions: Maisey 22, 26, 50
Attendance: 893
Referee: Matt Carley
Star Man: Will Maisey (Coventry)
