Eight-try Reds put Archers to the sword

JERSEY Reds concluded their home league schedule by putting Nottingham to the sword, scoring eight tries and cruising to victory.

A powerful display by the host club’s forwards set a platform for a dominant display, which featured four tries in each half and left director of rugby Harvey Biljon a happy man.

“We have been waiting for a game where it all came together and we made some big steps in that direction today,” he said. “There’s been some difficult weather around recently and so it was great to have a dry pitch and good conditions so that the boys could show what they could do.”

Nottingham’s task became harder within two minutes of kick-off when wing Joe Browning caught his opposite number Will Brown late after a kick ahead and was yellowcarded. The Jersey pack capitalised with an early try, with great hands by Steve Longwell, Eoghan Clarke, Macauley Cook and Lewis Wynne before Cook looped round to take a scoring pass and canter home.

Eoghan Clarke soon claimed his 14th and 15th tries of the season, the first from a well-worked move off a lineout and the second by more traditional means as a maul rumbled over, just after Carl Kirwan saw yellow for foul play.

Nottingham’s first spell of pressure was sparked by a powerful run by Callum Allen and then Sam Hollingsworth chipped through for Browning to gather and score. But the hosts had the last word before halftime when successive scrum offences by the Green-and-Whites in the red-zone resulted in a penalty try.

Jordan Holgate was arguably the Reds’ most potent attacking weapon and was the dominant figure as the second-half began, handling three times before Brown scooted over in the corner.

Skipper Josh Poullet pulled a score back for the visitors, but the Reds finished strongly, with three tries in the final quarter. Sean O’Connor scored from a maul after a successful 50:22 kick by Sam Leeming and then Dan Barnes finished a well-executed lineout move.

The Archers didn’t give up, having lost several players to injury, but conceded again at the death when Max Argyle went over from close range for Jersey’s eighth try.

Head coach Craig Hammond said: “Our set-piece didn’t function – it’s hard to play without a scrum and a lineout, and we were put under pressure by a good side from early in the game.”