JERSEY United Banks will face the JRFC’s 2nd XV in the final of the Sugden Cup in early April following Banks’ 25-5 win over Guernsey RFC’s 2nd XV and the 2nds’ 31-12 win over Beeches at St Peter on Sunday afternoon.
Of the two games the second, featuring Beeches versus Jersey, was a tremendous advert for rugby as the home side turned out a team bursting with talent, only for Beeches to knock down their more illustrious opponents time and time again until they tired with 20 minutes to play, allowing Jersey to run in three tries virtually unopposed.At one stage in the game Jersey had arguably the best set of threes even their 1st XV could field, with Richie Griffiths, Ross Allan and Steve Byrne pumping on all cylinders before they were knocked down, one by one.And, in the pack, the whole of the Beeches’ front row was tremendous while, behind them, No 8 Andy Dawson ran his heart out in a bid to take the Beeches to a first Sugden Cup final for years.This was not an uneven contest, despite the number of Jersey 1st team players guesting in the 2nds’ team.The first score came from Beeches’ right winger Brett Ireland, who ran in a try after five minutes which was made by the pack and then finished off by fast hands along the threes.Then, two minutes later, second row player Matt Collins, for Jersey, was given the easiest of run-ins from a line-out when no-one laid a hand on him to make it 5-5.
Phil Walker converted to make it 7-5.Beeches came again and Jim Brimelow deserved his try, to make it 10-7 when he scored a typical pack-driven score 25 minutes into the game.
Peter Stockley converted.Leading by that score at half-time, Beeches were then put to the cosh in the second half when Jersey made several changes to their team and, despite Beeches’ heroics in defence, began to run in the tries.The first in the 43rd minute was scored by Ian Troy, converted by Ross Allan.After that Beeches had chances of their own, before Richie Griffiths popped up to make it 19-12 with the game an hour past.
Allan converted.As Beeches visibly wilted, Jersey scrum-half Steve Mee stole through to score, followed by Griffiths finishing off a good three-quarter move on the left to make it 31-12.Beeches were out of the Sugden Cup final, but pleased with the way they had won the JRA Emeraude Lines league this season - a trophy presented to them at the end of a spirited game played with power and passion.’Our forwards took the game to them,’ said Beeches’ captain Peter Stockley, afterwards, ‘but we couldn’t keep up with them when they played the ball so quickly across their threes.
Even so, we held them for most, if not all, of the full 80 minutes.’So Beeches won’t be in the final - but the Jersey United Banks will be, after beating Guernsey RFC’s 2nd XV 25-5.In truth the game was all but over by half-time, with Banks ahead 22-0, before Guernsey’s Paul Livesey tore through a static Banks’ defence to make his mark on the game and to earn the Guernsey team five points of their own.That, though, was to be the sum of their team’s scoring efforts and two tries from left-winger Richard Finch, another single by No 8 Ivan Murphy plus two conversions and two penalties by Jim McCormack gave the Banks a comfortable 25-5 win and that place in the final.after which captain Julian Gruchy said: ‘In the loose the pack were tremendous with Niall (Brennan), Ed (O’Brien) and Ivan (Murphy) the first to any breakdown.’The loose forwards helped to win this game.
That, and the try-scoring abilities of Richard Finch.
It was a makeshift team, with the likes of the Trowers away and Brummie (James Moore) having to go off injured after the first five minutes.
But everyone stuck at their task and, in the end, we deserved our win.’n In Wales on Friday evening Jersey’s under-19s lost to Kenfig Hill 24-21 before beating Porthcawl 24-13 on Saturday having been 13-7 down.Other results: Friendly - Les Quennevais 35, Cathays 15.
Article posted on 8th March, 2004 - 12.00am
Most Commented: