UNITED BANKS stay top of the J Promail Jersey Rugby Association League after their four-try bonus point 32-10 victory over Mitie Beeches at Les Quennevais on Saturday.

Jersey RFC 2nds are, however, just one point adrift after doing the same against Wanderers at St Peter on Sunday.

Although most of the early play in Saturday’s match took place in Banks’ half, they soon led 10-0 following a penalty and a converted try.

The try came after Beeches attempted to kick to the left wing, only for Henry Goatcher to intercept, with Mike Pankhurst eventually taking it over the line.

The kicked points came from Colin Smith.

Beeches pulled back three points before the interval when stand-off Peter Stockley dropped a goal.

In the second-half most of the play took place in the Beeches half, though there were some great runs up the wing by Beeches No 12 Simon Humphreys.

Alisdair Hunter scored Banks second try after some excellent running and passing on the wing, the extra points behind added by Smith who was in fine kicking form.

On the hour a great maul from Banks moved them 30 yards forward and then the ball was fed out to the right the speedy Linval Antonio who scored.

Smith again converted, then shortly afterwards added a penalty to make it 27-3.

Although Beeches defended well in the closing period Banks secured their bonus point with a great individual effort from Antonio, who collected the ball at half way, stepped two tackles, chipped over the remaining defenders and won the race to touch down in the corner.

A rare miss from Smith was followed by a Beeches consolation try scored by full-back Harvey Philpott, converted by Stockley.

Jersey 2nds ran out 36-8 winners against Wanderers, although in the first half, in particular, they were put under pressure at times.

‘In the first ten minutes we looked good,’ said 2nds’ captain Rory Steel.

‘We went ahead when Will Grant at No 8 sold a dummy to score an easy try, converted by Paul Banahan.

Then Wayne Boschat scored a break-away try from his own 22, out-running some of Wanderers’ Youth boys.

That was converted to make it 14-0, but they disrupted us in the scrum and their stand-off played an excellent kicking game.

We were struggling.’ Wanderers’ No 10, Michael Le Bourgeois (17), scored the only other points in the first half – a penalty – before the 2nds tightened up their discipline in the final phases of the game.

‘Generally, we were turning their ball over,’ said Wanderers’ captain and scrum-half Will Church, who hounded his opposite number to good effect throughout the match.

‘I don’t think the scoreline reflects the even nature of the game.

They had breakaways, including one Jim Milner try he should never have scored, and Chris Pople, who only turned 18 less than a month ago, was tremendous in his first senior game at prop.

‘Perhaps we lacked an older and wiser head in the backs.

But Matt Howe deserved his try.’ Howe, formerly a winger, now a lock or back row player, took a quick tap penalty while the opposition were arguing among themselves at a time when the 2nds were already 26-3 ahead.

Other tries came from Dave Felton, from a quick tap penalty from five yards out, a Banahan converted try which included a glorious dummy; then finally two tries in the last minutes of the game, the first from Milner, the last by Blair Carwood.