First win binned league leaders

ST JACQUES secured their first win of the JRA League season with a gutsy 14-3 success over league leaders United Banks at the KGV. After holding the Jersey Seconds to a 0-0 draw and then narrowly losing to a Guernsey Seconds bolstered by a number of first-teamers, the long-awaited win delighted but did not surprise St Jacques coach Chris Griffiths.

'We know we could have and should have beaten both Jersey and Guernsey seconds at home this season and we weren't about to make the same mistake today by letting this victory slip through our fingers,' he said.

'But it is testament to just how well we played that we should have scored four or five tries and won the game very comfortably against the top team in the league.

'The future of St Jacques Rugby Club is looking very bright and the progress we have started making this season is just the tip of the iceberg, which in turn can only be good for Guernsey rugby as a whole.

'We've worked incredibly hard on fitness at this club and it's clearly starting to pay dividends.'

With the usual great home support from the balcony at the KGV, St Jacques started brightly and nearly scored a try in the first five minutes but for a knock-on just in front of the try line after some great work from the pack.

A difficult penalty chance was narrowly missed by captain Jon Bell on what was a very windy afternoon but after a great deal of pressure from the all-blacks, the break finally came mid-way through the first half. After a strong run through the middle from No. 8 Rob Box and support from prop Simon Ogier, the ball was worked into the corner.

Through several phases, the backs and forwards combined to create a try in the corner for impressive hooker Tom Chamberlain and the conversion was slotted home from out on the touchline by Bell.

The away team ventured into the St Jacques 22 on only a couple of occasions without really threatening to score. But the home team were pleased to hear the half-time whistle nonetheless after a very frenetic and hard-fought first half.

The second half soon provided Banks with a chance to score with a penalty, which was duly slotted home from in front of the posts. Thereafter the game became one of attrition and it slowly emerged that the all-blacks were starting to turn the screw up front.

After several substitutions by both sides, the game was still being played at quite a pace.

The lineout on both sides was proving difficult with the strong winds and with it against them, St Jacques were forced to keep the ball in hand and eventually with about 10 minutes to go and a lot of pressure the home side struck again, with Simon Ogier eventually forcing his way over from 10 yards to score between the posts.

Bell obliged with the conversion for the final 14-3 scoreline.

In the dying moments, St Jacques fly half Marc Griffiths made it to the line but was deemed to have made a double movement and the try was not given.