This Is Guernsey

Jersey Select 31, Guernsey Select 19

JERSEY continued their domination of the J Promail junior rugby club inter-insular with a well deserved 31-19 victory at Grainville, although Guernsey played more than a bit part in entertaining a crowd of about 200. Jersey captain Pat Dean duly lifted the trophy, the host island’s seventh win in nine attempts, but credit to the Sarnians for their doggedness as they averted a heavy defeat with a splendid flourish in the last quarter.

It had, in fact, been a close encounter for much of the sun-drenched but chilly afternoon, with the score tied at 7-7 at the break.

Beeches’ Dan Ireland set up Jersey’s try by breaking two tackles before releasing fellow centre Harry Trower to gallop over by the Guernsey posts. Teenage winger Luke Le Sueur converted for the first of a personal tally of 16 points.

But Guernsey drew level just before the half-hour with an excellent high kick from stand off Alec Bailey being collected by flying left wing Seoirse Lee, who touched down behind the Jersey posts. Captain Carl Gardner converted.

Guernsey’s Tom Chamber-lain went close with a difficult penalty attempt just before the break as the Sarnians enjoyed a spell of pressure, but that would have been tough on Jersey, who had been impressing in the scrum, with No. 8 Russell Holland putting in a good show.

Jersey took control early after the resumption and forward pressure led to Le Sueur kicking a 20m penalty in front of the posts.

Seven minutes later Le Sueur was enjoying his best moment when he touched down in the left-hand corner for a super 35m solo try. He added a difficult conversion.

Now 17-7 ahead, Jersey’s man of the match fullback Mark Le Mottee scored the first of his two tries, taking full advantage of excellent play between Ireland and Trower. Le Sueur again added two points.

Le Mottee soon topped even that excellent effort with a mazy run from the halfway line that ended up under the posts.

But Le Sueur’s conversion - making it 31-7 - proved to be Jersey’s final score as, with a raft of substitutions having been made by both sides, Guernsey responded to the threat of a hammering in great style.

Fullback Benny van Vuuren, their man of the match, voted for by Jersey, ignored a two-man overlap and a try went abegging when busy scrum half Andrew Black cleared the danger, but the Sarnians were not to be denied for long, with Gardner’s pass putting over substitute Niall Kealy near the posts. The skipper converted.

Excellent work by Lee on the left wing set up a try in the corner for Jason Batiste, but that was the end of the scoring in this enjoyable encounter.

‘It’s difficult putting a scratch side together and getting them to gel, so when the substitutions were made, it was tougher still, though they all did well as individuals. Our Les Quennevais front row did well, the centres were excellent and we scored some good tries, but give Guernsey credit, they really stuck at it,’ said delighted Jersey coach Gareth Davies.

Guernsey’s Ray Smart said: ‘It was very pleasing the way we came back, but Jersey did have a very strong pack and did score some good tries.’