Naive 2nds miss their openings

Guernsey 2nds 5, Jersey 2nds 24

GUERNSEY 2s had reason to be encouraged despite slipping to defeat against rivals Jersey 2s in their opening match of the new JRA League season at Foote's Lane. The Caesareans were buoyed by a number of last season's first XV squad and started well.

But Alec Bailey's youthful Guernsey side more than held their own in the early exchanges.

The difference between the sides was their relative abilities to take their chances when they came.

Jersey took the lead following some good work from their back row and Ryan Morgan scored between the posts. It was then further extended as Guernsey gave away a penalty in front of the posts.

However, Guernsey responded almost immediately from a typical Steve Burt try, which captain Bailey failed to convert.

Unfortunately again some lapses in defence around the ruck area, allowed young Jersey back-row forward Faulkner over for a converted try to give Jersey a 17 points to five lead.

The Sarnian pack enjoyed the accendency in both scrum and line-out and the home side were unlucky not to add to the scoreboard just before half-time as wave upon wave of attacks were repelled by an aggressive Jersey defence.

Guernsey were still on top at the start of the second half, but despite ringing the changes to both pack and back-line, the home side were unable to find the spark to unlock they defence as they spent the majority of the half camped in the Jersey 22.

With that in mind it was galling for Bailey's side when near the end Morgan again broke through the Sarnian defence to score a converted try to give the scoreline a less than true reflection of the match. Bailey was pragmatic in defeat.

'We are a young side and perhaps our naivety showed at times. We just lacked that little bit of spark in midfield. Our forwards were outstanding and gave our back line more than enough ball to win the game.

'It was great to see Ben Mahy back playing and Rob Palmer's second team debut at hooker was outstanding.'