Leeds 32 Jersey 19
Jersey left Yorkshire empty-handed in spite of playing their
part in an entertaining contest at Headingley.
The evening game, believed to be Jersey's first evening match,
was a high-tempo affair from the start with both sides showing a
willingness to run the ball in front of 2,066 fans. The hosts were
the first to harvest points from this approach, with debutant Josh
Griffin bursting through for a try converted by Joe Ford.
Ross Broadfoot reduced the arrears with a penalty before Ford
replied in kind. Jersey then registered their first Championship
try, inspired by a brilliant run from Guy Thompson. Jersey's
live-wire flanker was eventually hauled down 20 metres short, but
the ball was recycled and Donovan Sanders fed Mike Le Bourgeois for
the try.
Broadfoot's conversion and a subsequent penalty put Jersey into
a narrow lead, but Ford struck again to make it 13-apiece at the
break.
An injury to Broadfoot brought Ashley Maggs into the fray soon
after half-time, and the visitors were behind again within three
minutes - young skipper Jacob Rowan finishing a series of driving
moves with the try. Jersey were a man down at the time with Nicky
Griffiths sent to the sin-bin for preventing quick ball.
Jamel Chisholm claimed Leeds' third try on the hour when he was
first to reach a wickedly-bouncing kick ahead, although Leeds were
still not out of sight, leading 25-19 after two penalties by Le
Bourgeois for the Islanders.
Jersey's hopes of snatching anything from the game - at least a
bonus point, perhaps more - were dashed with around nine minutes to
play when Rowan spotted a gap and powered over for his third try of
the season. Ford's conversion made the final margin of defeat 13
points, one fewer than on the opening weekend against Cornish
Pirates.
Speaking to the Jersey Evening Post after the game, Jersey
Director of Rugby Ben Harvey said: "It's inexperience, and this
young side will learn, as we have had to learn in the past when
we've moved up a division.
"The only difference is having to learn while losing. But they
will learn hard lessons, like tonight when we did not play our
rugby in the right areas."
In spite of suffering two defeats, Jersey have shown they are
more than capable of competing at Championship level and will be
looking to kick-start their season with a home win against Moseley
next Saturday, September 15th, k-o 3pm.
Jersey XV
1 Richard Barrington (Sean McCarthy 53)
2 Steve Boden (Dave Felton 78)
3 Ben Evans
4 Nathan Hannay (Capt)
5 Dave Markham (Rob Anderson 77)
6 Talite Vaioleti (Kingsley Lang 46)
7 Guy Thompson
8 Nick Trower (Fred Silcock 72)
9 Nicky Griffiths
10 Ross Broadfoot (Ashley Maggs 40)
11 James Copsey
12 Tom Cooper (Brendan O'Brien 66)
13 Donovan Sanders
14 Glenn Bryce
15 Mike Le Bourgeois
Leeds Carnegie: McColl, Lucock, Griffin,
Burdon, D Doherty, Ford, J Doherty, Imiolek, Nilsen, Hooper,
Myerscough, Hemingway, Beck, Rowan (c), Burrows
Replacements: Graham, Harris, Tussac, Green, Barrow, Hampson,
Chisholm
Referee: Ian Tempest
