Jersey are forced to hang on after first-half supershow

A SEASON-high half-time away score of 31 points for Jersey sealed a bonus point win and completed a seasonal hat-trick over the Exiles.

Two first-half tries by prop Simon Kerrod and scores by scrum-half Kieran Hardy and lock David McKern gave the Reds a lead that Scottish couldn’t claw back even with four second-half tries.

Delighted Jersey head coach Harvey Biljon, said: “To come here and get a five-point victory is exceptional, I’m really proud of the players but we need to look at not executing in the second half.

“We showed a huge amount of control in the first half. Not keeping our discipline let them back in and I give them credit for playing a lot of good rugby when we gave the opportunities away.”

Jersey started strongly, using their physical advantage in the pack to wreak havoc at scrum time. A scrum on Scottish’s five metre line saw good handiwork by flanker James Freeman and lock Pierce Phillips before Kerrod climbed over to score.

Minutes later Scottish centre Robbie Ferguson was penalised for a tackle in the air on Jordan Davies after a chip by Reds fly-half Callum Sheedy. Full-back Sam Katz grabbed the three points.

Then a turnover by Hardy deep in Jersey’s own half released McKern before Davies ripped through the Exiles defence. Two phases later Hardy popped back up in the corner to dot down.

The visitors rounded off a strong first 20 minutes with two lineouts on the Scottish five-metre line before a catch-drive resulted in Kerrod going over.

The Exiles woke up in the 26th minute as Fergus-

son’s masterly kick-chase from deep, was picked up by wing Jason Harries who offloaded to centre Ross Neal before Jamie Stevenson was released to score.

Scottish prop Grant Shiells went to the bin after the Exiles lost another scrum before Jersey’s McKern went over.

The Exiles went up a notch after the break. Reds flanker Gary Graham was sin-binned for punching before a catch-drive try was scored by David Cherry.

Scottish started matching the Reds up front and a 30-metre driving-maul ended with Jason Harries crossing. Then Peter Lydon went over after a turnover and they got within a point when a beautiful long pass found Harries to score with five minutes left, but Jersey held out for the win.

Scottish head coach Peter Richards, said: “The second half was far more us in terms of keeping the ball in play and trying to tire out that big Jersey forward pack.

“We had nothing to lose in the second half and some of our execution was first rate and had we not knocked the ball on with another error at the end it might have been different.”