Full-time: Coventry 20 Jersey Reds 15.
The Reds were in the ascendancy early on, leading 0-12 after a quarter of an hour with tries by Auguy Slowik and Nick Selway, but the home side got back into it and crucially survived a 10-minute spell around the break with just 13 men after two yellow cards for Tongan back row men Latu Maka'afi and Jack Ram.
It was 10-12 at the break with former Red James Voss having scored the home side's try to add to a Will Maisey penalty.
The home side got stronger once restored to 15 men and scores by Halaifonua - a powerful try down the right - and Maisey - a well-struck penalty, made it 20-12. Brett Herron landed a last-kick penalty to secure a losing bonus point for the Reds, who lost prop Alec Clarey to a serious-looking injury in the second half.
The Coventry win was cheered by the majority in a crowd of 2,003 who were able to celebrate a winning return to the second tier after eight years in National 1. Jersey will move on to an away game at Bedford Blues next Saturday.
Full report - see HERE
