Jersey 20 Rosslyn Park 18
January 14th 2012
SSE National League One
Jersey thrilled a huge home crowd of 3,600 and moved to the top
of National One with a hard-fought win over previous leaders
Rosslyn Park.
A fine display of goal-kicking from Ross Broadfoot under-pinned
the Islanders' win, which delighted Director of Rugby Ben
Harvey.
"To win at Ealing last week with so many injuries and then back
that up with a win today was fantastic, especially with a squad
that was down to bare bones.
"Ross was a really calm presence in front of goal, kicking is so
important and for him to step up was awesome."
The home team were stunned by an early Park try as slick
handling and direct running helped puncture Jersey's midfield
defence and Steve Parsons, switched from wing to centre just before
kick-off, scored.
Jersey recovered slowly and battled back into the game, and
Broadfoot kicked a penalty to narrow the deficit before missing
with his next attempt.
Park sensed an opportunity when Steve O'Brien's yellow card
reduced the hosts to 14, but in their next attack a flat pass from
Ross Laidlaw was picked off by Guy Thompson who raced 60 metres
downfield. The Jersey flanker was hauled down just short, but
Park's defence had been fully stretched and when the ball was spun
left Glenn Bryce crossed, choosing an extravagant dive when he
might have considered getting closer to the posts. Broadfoot's
missed conversion was his second and final unsuccessful attempt of
the afternoon.
Jersey withstood some late pressure to hold their 8-5 lead up to
the break and returned with a full 15-man complement. Chris
Levesley's pacy run put the hosts on the front foot straight from
the kick-off and when Park conceded a penalty, Broadfoot stretched
his side's advantage.
Park kicker Laidlaw kept his side in the game with two
penalties, but Broadfoot responded and Jersey led 14-11 on the
hour, and pulled further ahead when Laidlaw was 'sacked' by
marauding defenders and penalised for not releasing.
Broadfoot's final penalty marked the first time either team had
led by more than 7 points and this advantage was to be crucial in
the closing stages as the visitors applied the pressure. Visiting
winger Miles Mantella had two good runs, but another attack ended
with a penalty for crossing, the third time Park's three-quarters
had been penalised for this offence, and Jersey were able to clear
their lines.
Deep into added time a series of forward drives ended with a try
for Park's replacement scrum-half Graham Barr, converted by
Laidlaw, but there was no time to restart and the visitors had to
settle for a bonus point in defeat.
"I'm not disappointed by the effort - all the boys did the club
proud today," said Park's Director of Rugby Shaun Justice. "But the
points Jersey scored were given to them, with the interception and
the penalties - we'd talked about discipline being key."
Separated by just one point in the table at kick-off and two at
the conclusion of the match, Justice and Harvey were in agreement
on one key factor - that there remains a long way to go before the
national one title is decided.
Jersey: Bryce, Dawson, Copsey, Sanders,
Levesley, Broadfoot, McCormack, Maddocks (Landick 56), Felton
(Clyde-Smith 38), Evans, Hannay, Brownrigg (Lang 68), O'Brien S
(Y31, Trower 40), Thompson, Bell (capt). Unused replacement:
O'Brien B.
Rosslyn Park: Edwards, Shabbo, Parsons,
Robinson (Gower 70), Mantella, Laidlaw, Baxter (Barr 68), Ovens,
Richmond, Ward, McKeen, Anderson, Rowland, Campbell (Pape 68), Lock
(capt). Unused replacements: Huggett, Gotting.
Referee: Ross Campbell
Attendance: 3,648
Half-time: 8-5
Star Men: Nathan Hannay, chosen as man-of-the
match by match sponsor HSBC; Ross Broadfoot (Rugby Paper
MoM)
Jersey
Try: Bryce 34
Penalties: Broadfoot 15, 42, 50, 63, 70
Rosslyn Park
Tries: Parsons 4, Barr 81
Conversion: Laidlaw 81
Penalties: Laidlaw 48, 56
