STRIKER Ryan Le Cornu bagged a hat-trick to send Grouville crashing to their first Division I defeat of the season in the Coca-Cola Combination on Saturday.

Le Cornu’s treble earned Rozel Rovers a 3-1 success at Le Couvent, moving Roy Jeanne’s side up two places to fifth while ending Grouville’s impressive eight-match winning run in all competitions.

Jeanne said: ‘It was an excellent win; previously we had been leaking goals too easily and not taking our chances – that changed on Saturday.

‘We’ve been strengthened by a couple of signings just before Christmas and they made a difference, Steven McGinness in midfield and Richard Picot who played at right back.

‘Defensively we played well as a unit with Carl Scott again outstanding in the centre.

I’m delighted for Ryan too, he has been working hard for the team and took his goals very well.’ Grouville joint-manager Ian Horswell said: ‘Rozel played a good game tactically, they hit us on the counter-attack and with the pace of Ryan Le Cornu and Scott Healey they dominated when they did that.

‘Ryan’s first two goals were very good, although all three goals we conceded we could have defended a bit better.

‘Our fluency was not there following the festive break and hopefully we can get it back quickly as we play Jersey Scottish at the weekend.’ Hat-trick hero Le Cornu (18), an apprentice electrician, said: ‘It’s great to score a hat-trick, I’ve scored one previously in Division I for St Peter against Jersey Wanderers.

‘Grouville are a good side and we knew it was going to be a tough game.

We played well, our defence was solid throughout and we hit them with our pace when we could.

‘I liked my third goal best,’ said the former Star Trophy and under-18 Island striker, adding: ‘I kept my composure to take the ball round the goalkeeper to score.’ Peter Warrell tapped home Grouville’s consolation after the Rovers had run up a three-goal advantage.

Grouville’s defeat leaves them three points adrift of leaders Scottish with the parish club having one game in hand.

St Paul’s remain in third place, six points behind Scottish, after they put seven past bottom team Magpies without replay.

At St Saviour, Jean-Paul Martyn hit a hat-trick, Craig Russell a pair and David Watson and junior Jason De Andrade singles.

Champions St Peter moved up two places to fourth, their highest position this season, after a 5-0 win against Trinity, the latter who had Barry Beatson sent off in the closing stages after collecting two yellow cards.

Chris Conning capped a fine game in St Peter’s midfield with a couple of goals, he also provided the final pass for another, with Scott Walsh, Jack Cannon (penalty) and substitute Marco Vieira also registering.

Coca-Cola Combination Div I: Rozel Rovers 3, Grouville 1; St Ouen v Jersey Scottish postponed; St Paul’s 7, Magpies 0; St Peter 5, Trinity 0.

PW Touzel Memorial Trophy 1st rd: Sporting Academics 1, St Brelade 2; Portuguese Club 7, Beeches Old Boys 3; Jersey Nomads 5, St John 0; St Lawrence 2, St Martin/SCF 1.

Div I Res: Grouville 2, Sporting Academics 1; Trinity v First Tower pp.

Div II Res: St John 3, Portuguese Club 0; St Martin/SCF 3, St Ouen 6.

Div C: Sporting Academics 1, Jersey Wanderers 7; St Clement 1, St Brelade 3.

Ladies Div: St Brelade 1, Grouville 2; St Paul’s 2, St John 2; St Peter 0, First Tower 7.

Jersey Telecom Junior League U18 Div II: St Clement v St Ouen postponed.

U16 Div I: Jersey Wanderers 6, St Brelade 1; St Paul’s 8, St Peter 1; Trinity 1, First Tower 3.

U16 Div II: Grouville v St Ouen pp; Rozel Rovers 3, St Clement 1.

U14 Brian Beckett Trophy 1st rd: St Ouen 0, St John 4; Rozel Rovers 0, Jersey Wanderers 1; St Paul’s 5, St Peter 2.

U14 Div II: Grouville 9, St Paul’s B 0.

U14 friendly: St Clement B 4, Jersey Scottish 5.

U12 Red Group: Jersey Wanderers A 7, St Clement A 1; St Paul’s A 3, St Peter A 2.

U12 White: Jersey Wanderers B 3, First Tower 3; St John 2, Rozel Rovers A 2; St Paul’s B 4, St Brelade 1.

U12 Blue: Rozel Rovers B 1, St Clement B 10; St Ouen 1, St Peter B 0.