Match Report: Jersey 43 - 15 PARFC (PSF)

(Editor's note: The following brief report just received from one of our travelling correspondents, who doubtless has his hands full with social commitments.) Albion's new team have established a good base camp at the foot of the mountain the peak of which is promotion back to the Championship.  The new look squad of 24 (with some notable absences holding a variety of "excused boots" chits) travelled as guests of our ex-peers in the Championship. It's a big fixture early on in the pre-season scheme of things. Yeah - big, as in "Jersey have assembled the largest pack in the Championship" big. No-one can have gone out to St Peter with any rose-tinted expectations of a run in the sun - a hefty reality check for many of the lads "stepping up" or trialists was definitely on the cards.

Albion started the game in good form. While their hosts really took some time to get going, the visitors (led by scrum half Cameron Setter) hit the ground running. By taking advantage of field position due to Jersey conceding penalties they had within 20 minutes, established a 15 point unanswered lead; a pair of tries from Neil Dacres and aussie Ethan Ford were augmented with another five points from Eliot Bale's boot. Two fine chances on the wings (from RN man Raumakita and Ford) came to nought. And that's when the Jersey alarm clock went off.

The homeside then tightened things up and started to make life more difficult for the less experienced visitors in the loose. With that much beef on the hoof up front (the height advantage over Albion's second row is particularly pronounced), the driving game came to the fore. It was no surprise when they eventually scored their first try; a line out on the left 5 metres from the Albion led to line to a catch and drive and a crossover. It was a sign of things to come - the first of 4 such scores.

As the pressure was turned up, it was Albion who found themselves being penalised and they paid the price. By half-time the score was 19 - 15 to Jersey.

The second period started well for us, Albion's scrum stood up well in the set pieces and Jersey were kept out for 20 minutes. But then another maul (this is a page yet to come in the Dawe Training Schedule) produced a try for Jersey. After replacements had come on for us, there were further breaks towards the home line, but they were blunted or countered. As the dying moments of the game arrived, a creditable 31 - 15 scoreline looked possible, but in the final minutes Jersey cut loose and ran in two good tries; FT: 43 - 15.

So training in set pieces is showing results, but match play will improve team cohesion and discipline around the loose. The score may look like we were overwhelmed, but there is much to be pleased about. We can be optimistic about the future. Will we reach the summit at the first attempt? It is far too early to say.

Thanks to our friends in Jersey who have been very hospitable. Those of you who did not travel have missed a good weekend.