Guernsey seconds' hard efforts reap no rewards

Jersey seconds 12, Guernsey seconds 0

GUERNSEY seconds returned from playing JRA League leaders Jersey seconds on Sunday without the win their great efforts deserved. The home side, bouyed by the presence of numerous first-teamers and with semi-pro players Tongan Latu Makaufi and Kiwi Nathan Kemp on the bench, started strongly and a missed tackle by Guernsey allowed them to take an early lead with only a couple of minutes on the clock through an unconverted try.

This appeared to shake the green-and-whites into action and for the rest of the first half, the Sarnian pack began to dominate in the loose and the set piece.

Only strong Jersey defence stopped first hooker Dave Hatcher then back-row forward Robin Le Cocq going over for tries.

With Guernsey's man of the match Zac Ferbrache coming into the back line from fullback, the visitors continued to press, with Ferbrache working well with centres Cameron Patten and Rohan Greyvenstein to create danger on every attack.

Despite that, Guernsey went into half-time 5-0 down.

Just after the break, second-row forward Jordan Barber was forced to leave the field after taking a punch from one of the Jersey forwards - an incident missed by the referee.

That brought Russ Roberts into the pack after his return from injury and it was a steal from him in a ruck that led to Guernsey's best chance as replacement wing Tristan Bouscher broke from inside his 22, but after exchanging passes with Patten, he was eventually bundled into touch just yards from the Jersey try line.

As the game ended, Jersey broke through round the fringes and their number eight was bundled over for a try, converted by their fly half, to give the home side a rather flattering victory.

'It was a good effort,' said captain Alec Bailey, 'but the guys are a bit deflated at knowing how close we came to beating them in Jersey.

'Zac was outstanding, as was Tristan when he came on, but everyone of the guys played well and we deserved something out of today.

'It hurts more when you play well and lose.'

Guernsey seconds' next JRA League home game is on 4 March at Foote's Lane against United Jersey Banks.