AT St Peter on Saturday Jersey RFC’s 2nds retained the Sugden Cup by beating Jersey United Banks 29-13.
However, compared to the curtain-raiser, the Macmillan Cup, which Mitie Beeches won 59-17 against Guernsey St Jacques, at no time were the 2nds totally in charge, a fact highlighted by their captain, Gareth Davies.
‘I was more nervous about this game than any one this season,’ he said.
‘Banks have improved so much and they’ve some cracking players.
Antoine (Bacquet) is the best player I’ve played against all year.
Why did we win? We had quality in depth but I was also pleased by our attitude .
.
.’ Even at the death Banks could have scored when centre Julian de Gruchy’s searing run to the line ought to have produced a try but didn’t, as he unselfishly passed outside to an unmarked player who wasn’t able to catch the ball.
And although coach Len McAviney believed that, on the day, ‘the best team - lost - ‘ his captain, Steve Wallace, was more philosophical.
‘Yes, we were unlucky, but we just couldn’t break them down.
We couldn’t find enough ways through their excellent defence.’ Jersey RFC: Kenwright, Pirouet, Brimelow, Henderson, Davies, Holland, Allen, Grant, Nayar, J Allan, Hayes, Steel, Davenport-Brown, Leech, Caywood, Faulkener, Livesey, D Felton, Curzons, Carter.
United Banks: Wallace, Andrew, Trower (R), Goatcher, Murphy, Trower (N), Howarth, Bacquet, McAviney (T), McCormick, Manning, de Gruchy (J), Clyde-Smith (C), Barcis, Weal, Queripel, O’Callaghan, Trower (H), Clyde-Smith (G), Knott, Smith, Hobbs.
Article posted on 30th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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