A disappointing night for the Islanders saw them narrowly lose
to bottom-side Ealing Trailfinders by 25-23.
Jersey started brightly and scored the first try, and at one
point were 5-17 ahead, but that lead had been reduced to 15-20 by
half time.
The second half was a much tighter affair. Just after the
restart Ealing scored a converted 3rd try out wide on the left
through that man Chesters again, and aside from that there was only
an exchange of penalties to follow. Jersey were roared on by a loud
and passionate group of fans, who may not have made up half the
crowd, but certainly made more than 50% of the noise.
Ealing therefore complete the double over Jersey this season and
narrow the deficit between the two sides to 9 points, with
Nottingham - who travel to Cornish Pirates on Sunday - a single
point ahead of the Islanders.
Jersey
Forwards: Sean McCarthy, Elvis Taione, Dave Young, Nick
Campbell, James Voss, Alex Rae (capt), Ryan Hodson (YC 32), Latu
Maka'afi.
Backs: Nicky Griffiths, Aaron Penberthy, Mark Foster,
Mark McCrea, Drew Locke, Grant Pointer, Jack Burroughs.
Replacements: Nick Selway (YC 38) for Young (36min), Sam
Lockwood for McCarthy (48), Jimmy Williams for Griffiths (49),
David Bishop for Pointer (61), Joe Buckle for Hodson (71). Not
used: Luke Stratford, Niall O'Connor.
Ealing
Forwards: Ryan Storer, Andrei Radoi, Conor Carey, Steve
Pape, Gavin Curry, Adam Preocanin, Alex Bradley, Matt Evans (capt).
Backs: Morgan Thompson, Ben Ward, Phil Chesters (YC
19), Tom Bedford, Harry Sloan, Chris Kinloch, Andrew
Henderson.
Replacements: Richard Townsend, Steve Neville, Tim
Brockett, George Merrick, TJ Anderson, Tom Parker, Billy
Robinson.
Referee: Matt Carley
Attendance: 843
Half-time: 15-20
Scorers:
Ealing Trailfinders
Tries: Bradley 10, Penalty Try 32, Chesters 41
Conversions: Ward 32, 41
Penalties: Ward 21, 56
Jersey
Tries: McCrea 3, Maka'afi 19
Conversions: Penberthy 3, 19
Penalties: Penberthy 8, 35, 48
Full report
here.
