WELLS Rugby Club won a three-club under-15 encounter at the Jersey RFC over the weekend.
Jersey lost both their matches but their squad, which contains many new and welcome faces, should learn much from the far from one-sided defeats.
Effingham and Leatherhead were the third club involved in the tournament which was held in testing conditions at St Peter.A well-drilled Wells outfit deservedly beat Jersey 17-5 in the first match, profiting from home handling-errors, with steady play and cohesive teamwork.
They led throughout, with tries from Sam Edmundson, Callum Simpson and James Perkins and a conversion from Ashley Hill.
Jersey, who had trouble with scrums and line-outs, particularly in the first-half, enjoyed their best moment by far in the second-half when good fast ball at last found speedy winger Craig McEwan in space.
The newcomer blistered past several would-be tacklers to end his 50 yard run with a debut try.That Wells were a good outfit was underlined when they comfortably beat Effingham later in the day in a match in which tactics were dominated by a strong wind - Wells kicked tellingly better than Effingham.But Effingham put on a far better show the following day when, with the wind at their backs they forced Jersey back into their own 22 for much of the first half.
Lack of cohesion in defence was a problem again for the home side, but they showed their potential again before the break with a splendid try run-in from distance on the right by winger Harrison Moore.
The matches signalled a welcome return after illness by scrum-halfStephan Metcalfe and he crowned a good second-half show with an individual try after spotting a gap out wide.
The final say went to Jersey with a splendid conversion by Graham Dias wide on the left, but again the stronger side deservedly won the day, 27-12,The day was rounded off with the sides mixing players for a sevens match and Jersey coach Brian Williams will be far from unhappy with the potential and effort shown by his charges.Jersey RFC U12s edged out De La Salle College U12s 26-21 in a match that featured great technique and commitment.
Jersey, the more experienced team, were pushed hard by a well-coached school side.Killian Dorey opened for De La Salle with an athletic break from the centre which was converted by Jack Jolley.
After a period of pressure Jersey substitute Steven Coleman’s straight running helped him avoid a closing defence and James Le Brocq converted the try.Dorey showed his speed to go over for another try converted, again, by Jolley.
Back came Jersey with a sniping run and try from scrum-half Le Brocq that he converted himself.De La Salle began to tire in the second half and Jersey took the initiative.
Coleman used his direct running to break the De La Salle defence, with Le Brocq converting.
But far from folding DLS came back full of character and bustle.
Their efforts were rewarded with a try by forward Daniel Clarke which Jolley easily converted.Jersey had to show their experience and fitness in order to take the game, which they did deep into injury time; man-of-the-match Coleman once again driving over for the winning try.Jersey RFC U12s: Bruce Spencer-Tucker, Theo Jenner, Jared Dowinton, Luke Trotter, Tom Ellis, Christian Foley, James Le Brocq, James Seedhouse, Robert Toothill, Robert Ogley, Marcus Ollivier, David Le Masny, Alex Noble, Steven Coleman, Jonathan Bernstein.William Whitehead and Don Clarke helped referee the weekend games.
Article posted on 23rd March, 2004 - 12.00am
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