JERSEY RFC 2nds 29-5 win against Jersey United Banks at St Peter on Sunday and Les Quennevais’ 21-18 defeat of the Guernsey 2nds mean that that Jersey 2nds look odds-on favourites to win the JRA league.

Despite a rousing 20-minute comeback in the latter stages of the second half, when Julian de Gruchy found a gap in the 2nds’ defence to crash over to the left of the posts, Banks effectively lost in a five-minute period between the 41st and 48th minute of the game, during which they conceded 19 points.

‘We were still in the game at half-time, even though we were 10-0 down,’ said Banks’ coach, Len McAviney, ‘but following two simple scores, we were suddenly losing the game.’ Guy Hinks, coach to the 2nds team, added that the inclusion of players who have played at 1st team level helped earn them the win, not least because they are used to raising their game as and when necessary.

‘Having played in the 1st team has an effect; and their experience rubs off on the players around them,’ he said.

‘We had a good pack out although I was surprised by the Banks.

At the start of the season they seemed to have a good set of backs who could have given us a great deal more trouble.’ The first try, by the 2nds, came after a scrum five in the 12th minute when, against the head, James Simpson took the ball at No 8 and darted over.

Darren Toudic converted.

Toudic added to this with a penalty 17 minutes later and, apart from a few neat kicks into space by stand-off Jimmy McCormack, the Banks couldn’t find a way past a resolute Jersey defence.

From the start of the second half they they gave away three tries in quick succession.

The first try was the best, and followed a fine, 30 yard run and dummy by captain Matt Howe, who touched down close to the posts.

Toudic converted.

After another five-metre scrum the ball was spun to the blind side by scrum-half Dave Miles.

Ryan Morgan, on the wing, still had to get past his opposite number, but did so to make it 22-0.

Five minutes later another pick-up and drive from the set scrum, and Simpson had repeated his try-scoring act of the first half.

With the conversion, the score was 29-0 and Banks were, effectively, out of the running.

De Gruchy’s try was deserved consolation but at any level, you cannot ‘gift’ tries through lack of concentration.

Meanwhile, at Les Quennevais, the westerners allowed Guernsey 2nds to go 18-0 in front by the 45th minute before they put together a purple patch of 15 minutes of dominant rugby.

First to score was New Zealander Matt Davenport-Brown, quickly followed by fellow three-quarter Andy Morgan and captain Roy Le Lièvre.

Gary Rousseau converted all three to make it 21-18 in the 60th minute, which almost certainly means that, barring a miracle, Guernsey 2nds won’t win the league and that Jersey 2nds probably will.

In Guernsey, Wanderers beat hosts St Jacques, 21-5 in the remaining JRA League fixture.

Wanderers’ tries in an enjoyable game came from Jerry Willis, Paul Kempster and Mick Mayo, with John Creavy kicking all three conversions.

The Jersey RFC Academy had mixed fortunes away to Trojans RFC yesterday.

The U16s lost 40-5 to the county champions in Hampshire Division I, while the U9s won all three of their contests against their in-form hosts.

The U13s also performed well, being edged out 17-15 against Havant, but thumping Trojans 35-0.