Totally pointless exercise suits St Jacques

St Jacques 0, Jersey 2nds 0

THE very rare sight of a blank rugby scoreboard was a great cause of celebration for Chris Griffiths' brave men yesterday lunchtime. While their opponents could be excused for leaving the KGV pitch muttering something along the lines of, 'that was a pointless exercise', St Jacques were joyous. It was, after all, their first point in three JRA League matches this season.

It was fully deserved, too.

Indeed, had it not been for two bad misses by full-back John Bell - the second, high on the horrendous stakes - the blacks might have taken both points.

Jersey, who were strongly favoured to win and challenge for the title this season, had one sniff of a try all game and not one penalty attempt.

The only time they looked dominant was in the big second half brawl which saw referee Ross Hamon despatch two of the visitors to the sin bin together with St Jacques' Matt Chammings.

Griffiths admitted the result was 'slightly unexpected' but with it being St Jacques' first home game of the season, he had been hopeful of a good performance. Although it was an all-round team effort, the home forwards were superb and for nearly an hour, one man stood out, no. 8 Rob Box.

The former Guernsey firsts coach made his St Jacques debut five years after he last played and it was evidently clear he loved every moment of it, even if he may wake up feeling very sore today.

'He gave me 50 minutes of what he does best and that's running with the ball,' said Griffiths after the game.

Box said there was nothing sinister in him turning out for St Jacques as opposed to their rivals, Guernsey.

'I'm at college two evenings a week and Wednesday night is the only one I can train,' said the 38-year-old.

'I'm not fit yet but I aim to be.

'These boys enjoy their rugby and so do I.'

In a forward-orientated game, the standard of handling among both sets of backs was below average.

Jersey, on occasion, looked as if they might carve out an opening, but the home defence and cover were watertight.

Bell missed from in front of the posts 25 metres or so out after just three minutes, but it was his second, after 25min., and from half that distance that will have him ribbed by his colleagues for years to come.

The full-back just had to score but, just like Wakefield's Don Fox in the Rugby League Challenge Cup final all those years ago, the ball hardly got off the ground, Bell scuffing his kick low to the left of the posts.

St Jacques never looked like scoring again, seldom finding their way into the visitors' last third.

But a point was more than they will have expected and next week they aim to add another two at home to Guernsey Seconds.