SOUTH SEAS midfield magic, built on a rock-solid forward display, ensured a comfortable home victory for Jersey RFC on Saturday – and the extension of their 100 per cent promotion bid from London South Division II.

October sunshine at St Peter made for extremely comfortable viewing for the now regular 500-plus crowd, as did the league leaders’ willingness to take on Dorking with 15-man rugby, with Samoans Keiaho Bloomfield and Sam Tuia providing a real cutting edge.

Tension was the only ingredient missing from an excellent sporting occasion, despite the confirmation that two league points had been deducted from Jersey for an administrational error, as it was soon clear that newly promoted Dorking were not going to seriously challenge a pumped-up Jersey.

The visitors’ body language spoke volumes: missing six first-choice players and coming off the back of a heavy defeat last weekend, they knew they were in for a hard afternoon.

Jersey’s reputation clearly precedes them, and the fear factor of the opposition is now a major plus for them.

Indeed, only a occasional lack of accuracy prevented them doubling the six tries they ran in – something with which Ashburton professional coach Barry George agreed afterwards.

‘I think the only reason for 40 points we got and the 70 we should have got was a little inaccuracy in what we’re doing – a little knock-on here or the 50-50 marginal pass going astray there.

But we’re working on that,’ he said.

‘I thought the two midfielders were probably our star turns on the day, with Keiaho’s side-stepping and Sam’s speed and passing skills making the difference.

But the scrum was also outstanding, with props Jim Brimelow and Jon Brennan doing really well.

‘It’s all very pleasing.

The aim is not to be in this division next season.’ Dorking coach Richie Andrews, while ‘proud’ of his injury-ravaged squad’s refusal to fold, summed it up well: ‘Jersey are a good team and deserve to be where they are.

Good luck to them – I just hope they’re not in our league next season!’ Although play was rarely out of the Dorking half in the first period, Jersey only led 16-0 at the break, two penalties from No 10 Jon Swift sandwiching an excellent score from winger Ryan Morgan on 11 minutes to the left of the posts following superb handling from Richard Stevens, Tuia and captain Kern Yates.

Swift’s conversion struck the post and stayed out.

Swift played a major part in the second try, first charging down a clearance and then feeding Tui from the resulting ruck, the Samoan side-stepping two defenders to score on the left.

Swift’s conversion drifted wide, but the really telling kick of the half came from Dorking’s Ben Allard, who chose to end the half by kicking a penalty award into touch rather than take the ball forward to Jersey’s unforgiving forwards, with back-rowers Yates, Latu Maka’afi and Talite Violeti again outstanding.

If the second-half lacked drama, it was not short on skill, with superb support play between the charging Bloomfield and Morgan ripping Dorking apart on the left, Bloomfield taking the final pass to go under the posts for a converted try.

Tui added his second in brilliant style, with Swift again kicking the extra points.

Now 30 points down, the dogged Dorking enjoyed some rare pressure from which prop Adam Kelly scored in the left-hand corner.

Jersey made full use of their bench, which included the blooding of 17-year-old Academy player Joe Ellyatt in the back row.

The hosts restored their advantage with Tui producing a brilliant pass for full-back Christian Weald to roar over in the corner.

Swift produced a superb conversion to make it 37-5 and substitute winger Jim Milner scored the final points in the same corner to complete a satisfying day for Jersey rugby.

Jersey RFC: Jim Brimelow, Josh Chamier (Peter O’Connor), Jon Brennan, Ian Henderson (Joe Ellyatt), John Allo, Talite Vaioleti, Latu Maka’afi; Kern Yates (capt); James Cooper (Steve O’Brien), Jon Swift, Richard Stevens, Keiaho Bloomfield, Sam Tuia, Ryan Morgan (Jim Milner), Christian Weald.

Other scores: Beckenham 11, Old Colfeians 8; Chobham 29, Tunbridge Wells 17; Haywards Heath 24, Wimbledon 6; Maidstone 25, Sidcup 11; Sevenoaks 29, Guildford 0.

J Promail JRA League: Les Quennevais Sharks 3, Jersey RFC 2nds 24.

Friendly: Jersey Development Squad 13, United Banks 18.