Powerful Reds leave Pirates all at sea

JERSEY Reds produced a dominant forwards display to finish convincing winners against the team that started the day at the top of the table.

Cornish Pirates were unable to impose themselves on any area of the game and co-coach Alan Paver had few complaints about the result.

“We were outplayed, and it was one of those days where if something could go wrong, it did,” he said. “Having said that, Jersey put us under tremendous pressure, especially in the set-piece, and they deserved that scoreline.

“We lacked zip today, and we struggled to get parity in the scrum, which we knew would be a critical area. It’s a long season and we’ll need to focus on what we’ve been doing right up to this point.”

In contrast, Reds head coach Harvey Biljon was delighted to have overseen another win over his former club.

“We showed real character, especially with some leaders among the squad not available today and the new faces really stepping up,” he said.

“Our defence and work to achieve turnovers was very good – we were good with the ball, and also when we didn’t have it.”

The Reds looked to attack from the early stages and could have opened the scoring had Leroy Van Dam been able to take a pass from Auguy Slowik. Undeterred, the Jersey forwards turned the ball over at scrum time and when it found its way into midfield, James Newey broke through and raced to the line for the first Reds try.

A mauled try from Charlie Maddison stretched the score and then former Pirate Aaron Penberthy landed a penalty from his own half, with the visitors only getting on the scoreboard with the last play of the half when Will Cargill slotted a penalty after a multi-phase attack.

The second half was a more even contest and Jersey soaked up longer spells of pressure.

However, they were also able to launch attacks of their own, and kept the scoreboard ticking with two more penalties from Penberthy before the flyhalf completed a 100 per cent effort with the boot by slotting over a neat dropkick.

In the closing stages, Pirates finally breached the Reds’ line when replacement hooker Sam Matavesi broke through and cantered to the posts.

But the home side had the final word when another dominant scrum saw possession gained at the opposite end, and the impressive Calum Waters fed Koch Marx for the final score.