JERSEY United Banks deserved to win this semi-final of the Doug Tranter Cup, 27-7, at St Peter yesterday, although, as their captain, Julian de Gruchy said afterwards: ‘It was a hard game, a lot closer than the final score suggests.

It was a good team victory and we look forward to meeting Jersey 2nds in the final.’If the game had been decided purely on possession, Beeches would have won.In the second half they had Banks pinned back time and again in their own 22, often winning Banks’ ball as well as their own in the set scrum and there were some rumbling runs from No 8 by Andy Dawson which, on at least three occasions, were ended only a metre short of the try line.However, Beeches’ threes had a tendency to run crab-like and were caught again and again by a solid Banks’ threequarters’ line-up with captain de Gruchy leading by example in making solid, bone-shuddering tackles.And despite all of that possession, Beeches didn’t have a cutting edge.

They were also soon ten points down when the Banks’ pack set up Niall Brennan to score the first try of the match, converted by Paul Greenwood, who also scored from a penalty.At the end of a see-sawing first half Banks’ lead was down more to their defence than their attack, but within ten minutes of the restart they scored a beauty of a try from their own 22 when the Beeches lost possession after they’d been doing all of the attacking.Prop Roger Trower, despite being jet-lagged after walking straight from the plane to the pitch after a day’s travel from South Africa, popped the ball to the left where it eventually came to winger Adam Jones.Despite having only a small amount of space to work in he accelerated close in to the touchline, beat one despairing tackle and straightened up to score close to the posts.

Greenwood converted.Beeches, to their credit, simply moved up a gear and came again.

Their pack was awesome in the set scrum, and but for poor handling should have scored on more than one occasion.

When they did, from a Banks’ scrum, won by Beeches, and grounded by Dawson from five metres out, it looked as if the game might change again.Peter Stockley’s conversion made it 17-7 and a large crowd at St Peter’s was quite heartened by the pace and fluidity of a game in which both teams played their part.However, a rare penalty to the Banks, from wide out on the right was converted by Greenwood to make it 20-7 with less than 15 minutes remaining.More Beeches’ pressure followed; but again, poor handling in their threes led to Banks seizing loose ball, and following good work by the pack and a quick exchange of the ball, Tim de Gruchy ran through to put the seal on an enjoyable game to watch, 25-7.From underneath the posts Greenwood again converted.In the dying minutes Beeches almost scored a consolation try, but Banks weren’t going to give them an inch, and referee Don Clarke blew full-time after a solid five minutes of attrition five metres from the Banks’ try line.For Beeches, they’ve the JRA Emeraude Lines league to play for now – they’re on top, midway through the season with a league game against Banks to look forward to in six days time.For Banks, after a slow start to the season, they look good value to win something this year; although their pack must get out of the habit of going five yards back or more, whenever there’s a scrum .

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.In a friendly at the Rugby Club yesterday, an understrength Les Quennevais side were beaten by Jersey 2nds by seven tries to one.