Exiles are left in a fog after Jersey turn on power game

JERSEY Reds won their eighth consecutive game in all competitions and claimed maximum cup points for the second week running.

After enduring a torrid morning of travel delays, arriving less than an hour before a delayed kick-off, London Scottish conceded six tries, including five to the Reds’ potent driving maul.

Jersey’s assistant coach Neil Tunnah said: “Our set-piece gave us a great platform after a tricky start. We’d made several changes, and the guys we brought in made really good contributions and made sure we got the result we wanted.”

The Exiles forced two early scrum penalties, and Jacob Perry had a shot at goal which went just wide before the Reds claimed the opening score from a well-worked lineout drive started and finished by hooker Nick Selway.

Perry was on target from the tee to reduce the arrears, but after he missed another kick, the Reds struck from deep. Auguy Slowik took a quick 22-metre drop-kick, raced forward and found flanker Graham Geldenhuys, who took the ball on at pace and released Calum Waters for a 40m sprint to the line.

Selway’s second try was cancelled out when Exiles’ scrum-half Ed Hoadley spotted a gap and raced through to the line. The Scots were striving to reduce the deficit further before the break, but in the dying moments Miles Mantella was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on and the Reds kicked to the corner again, with Selway completing his hat-trick.

The second half began scrappily, with the Reds also reduced to 14 men when Dave McKern was adjudged to have taken out an opponent in the air.

The first points came via Aaron Penberthy’s penalty after 14 minutes, but the Scots tired in the closing stages, with Ed Hoadley earning a yellow card for preventing quick ball, and the Jersey pack took advantage, with two tries for replacement hooker Jack Macfarlane.

London Scottish rugby director Morris refused to blame a nine-hour journey to Jersey caused by fog.

“I couldn’t fault the effort of our players, they were certainly up for it after a tough morning, but credit to Jersey – they took control at the lineout and showed some real enterprise.”