Jersey's clinical finishing proved the difference in the annual
battle between the Channel Islands' rivals for one of rugby's
oldest trophies.
Jersey lifted the Ipes Siam Cup after scoring eight tries,
including a hat-trick for local boy Ed Dawson. Guernsey's amateur
players battled bravely to overcome the three-level gap in league
status between the two sides but were eventually well beaten.
A pushover try for Ryan Hodson opened the scoring and then
Dawson pounced for his treble, the first from Aaron Penberthy's
cross-kick, then an interception and finally a try in the corner
from Paula Kaho's pass. Guernsey's pack had a lengthy spell of
pressure to end the half, but couldn't make it count.
A fine run out of defence by visiting full-back Luke Sayer led
to a penalty for his side, slotted by Glen Walters from 30 metres
out, but then Jersey's forwards turned up the pressure and earned a
penalty try. The hosts then switched to their running game; Drew
Locke and Fautua Otto raced through for scores, each providing the
scoring pass for the other, and in the last play towering forward
Nick Campbell found himself in the clear for a 30-metre canter to
the line.
Jersey Head Coach Harvey Biljon said the passion of the
inter-island rivalry had been evident among his squad.
"We had five Jersey boys playing today who were firing up the
rest of the squad - it's been drummed into everyone how much it
means to beat the old enemy at the end of the season," he said.
The match was watched by one of Jersey's best-known fans -
Superman actor Henry Cavill was at St Peter as part of a
fund-raising day for the Durrell Wildlife Trust, for whom he is an
Ambassador. Henry was much in demand throughout the day and
presented the Ipes Siam Cup to winning captain Alex Rae.
The host Island won two of the day's other trophies: Jersey
Wanderers beat their Veteran counterparts 12-10 to lift the Nash
Cup thanks to tries from Gareth Jeffreys and Alex Walker and
William Church's conversion; Jersey 2nds were given a tough battle
for long periods of the Fallaize Cup match, winning by just 7-0 in
the dying moments of the first half but eventually winning
48-0.
Guernsey Ladies maintained their stranglehold on the Ladies
Siam, recovering from a 7-5 half-time deficit to win 7-17.
JERSEY 1st XV: Burroughs, Dawson, Hoskins,
Bishop, Otto, Penberthy, Dudley; Lancuba, Selway, Brennan,
Campbell, Markham, Rae (c), Hodson, Kaho. Replacements:
Lockwood, Garcia-Veiga, Williams, Trower, Fisilau, Bentley, Allan,
Locke.
GUERNSEY 1st XV: Sayer, Hema, Brown, Campbell (c),
Davison, Walters, Barnes; Crane, Ceillam, Batiste, Hillier,
Merrien, Smith, Thomas, Barton. Replacements: Manns, Sharrott, Le
Cocq, Sawene, Armstrong, Martin, Bailey.
REFEREE: Rob Warburton (RFU)
ATTENDANCE: 3,104
Man-of-the-match as chosen by Siam Cup sponsor
Ipes: Ed Dawson (Jersey)
Half Time: 26-0
Scorers
Jersey
Tries: Hodson 13 Dawson 15, 17, 22, Penalty try 53, Otto
63, Locke 67, Campbell 79
Conversions: Penberthy 13, 15, 17, Bentley 53
Guernsey
Penalty: Walters 48
