East Grinstead V Jersey U15 Boys

In what can only be described as monsoon conditions with a strong chilly wind, driving rain and standing water on the pitch, JRFC U15s put in their best team performance of the season so far with a 21-10 victory away at East Grinstead.

With no access to the pitches before KO due to the conditions Jersey’s warm u- up was curtailed to 15 minutes of handling in a small swamp like space to the sidelines. This, along with the 06:00 departure, contributed to the now traditional slow start and allowed East Grinstead to take an early lead with an try out on the left 5-0. Re-start kicking was an absolute lottery with no bounce off of the splodge the ball made on contact with the ground and not one kick made it more than 10 mtrs through the air. Both teams really tried to be creative, but conditions were not allowing any quick continuity & defending was proving much easier than retaining the ball. However, Jersey began to wake up as their pick & go was starting to dominate with the occasional ball out to the backs providing good variation, all excellently managed by scrum-half Max Le Vesconte. Some good recycling and tight forward play saw Aphonso Correia level the scores on about 15 mins. Ryan Allen-Le-Bas converted 5-7. On 25 minutes Jacob Watson made a line break in the centres following a series of quick rucks and managed to hand off some would be tacklers staying strong to run in just to right of the posts, Allen-Bas obliged with the extras. Half-time, 5-14.

After a quick turnaround, the second half continued as the first - both sides vying for supremacy between the 22metre lines, forwards slugging it out in the extremely heavy conditions. Fitness was going to be tested. Watson again, made a break in the centre taking the ball deep into opposition territory down the left, a couple of rumbles by the pack and the ball was moved out to the left where Archie Donnelly managed to get over out on the right. Le-Bas manged a huge conversion from far out 5-21 with 12 minutes to go. East Grinstead never surrendered and replied with an unconverted try with approximately 5 mins to go, 10-21. The comeback was thwarted though when good Jersey defence forced a turnover, cleared downfield and managed to hold the G’s in their own half till the final whistle. A thoroughly entertaining match played in great spirit in dire conditions. Both teams were well appreciated for their efforts with East Grinstead awarding Jacab Watson Player of the Match for the visitors.

Aphonso Correia, Eoin Mann, Carter Ferey, James Wiseman, Gabriel Graf, Oli Wiseman, Kobi Millington, Ianto Davies, Max Le Vesconte, Ryan Allen-Le-Bas, Jacob Watson, Archie Donnelly, Callum Coombs, Lennon Cummins, George Powell, Alex Hazzard, Robbie Milner, Owen Carter.

Dave Clark, Stewart Coombs, Tracy Davies