Islanders keep composure to Ride out late charge
Jersey Reds .......... 35pts
JERSEY survived a secondhalf onslaught from Doncaster Knights at St Peter after securing a tryscoring bonus point in the opening 30 minutes.
The Islanders stormed 29-0 ahead following tries from George Watkins (2), Simon Kerrod and Nick Haining, but Doncaster fought back with four scores of their own and could have spoiled the party in the dying moments.
Tyson Lewis, Glen Young, Will-Griff John and Ben White crossed for the Knights, although penalties from Jersey kicker Sam Katz ensured they left without a win.
“It was a tough task in that second 40, but they all showed composure and didn’t panic,” said Jersey head coach Harvey Biljon.
“The reason we let them back in was our ill-discipline. We gave them the opportunity to get their bonus point and that’s what we can be disappointed with. We were good in defence today, but what was more impressive was our attack.”
With the wind in their faces the Knights were no match for a determined Reds outfit in the first period, and after Katz’s early penalty Watkins grabbed the first try with a jinking solo effort from his own half. The winger collected a high clearance and sped from right to left – riding two tackles before touching down next to the posts.
Kerrod made it 15-0 from a lineout maul and Haining inflicted further misery on Clive Griffiths’ men with a 40-metre dash having claimed a loose ball from Doncaster’s ruck.
Watkins was in again on the half-hour – running onto a pop pass from Jordan Davies – but Lewis then ghosted through on
Doncaster’s left to reduce the deficit.
The Reds added just three points after the interval as they battled the blustery conditions, and their defensive efforts were hampered in the final ten minutes with lock Uili Kolo’ofa’i sin binned for a high-tackle.
The Knights scored twice in that time after Young had crashed over from close range. John grabbed the third from a rolling maul and White was then released by Young inside the Reds’ 22. Dougie Flockhart kicked the late conversion to bring his side within seven.
“It was a toss-of-a-coin scrum today, which was a blight on the game,” said Knights director of rugby Griffiths. “I’ve got to give credit to my lads; we were down and out at half-time but could have pinched it. To get two points from the situation we were in is quite remarkable.”