HEAVY overnight rain played a significant role in sinking Jersey RFC Academy’s Hampshire U15 Division I title hopes at St Peter on Sunday afternoon.

Visitors Winchester, second in the table to Jersey on points difference before kick-off, played the muddy conditions far better than their hosts, particularly in the second half, to earn a 19-5 victory, which leaves Barry George’s boys little hope of lifting the Academy’s first-ever league title.

For Jersey to triumph now Winchester must lose to bottom club Vectis, who are yet to register a win, in the final round of league matches, while on the same day the Island side must travel to beat Havant, who also have a chance to lift the title should Winchester slip.

Conditions were the same for both sides, of course, but it must have frustrated Jersey’s management that their highly-mobile side’s biggest test of the season took place on the heaviest front pitch conditions of the season. The pace and movement that had earned Jersey an average of 39 points a game was drained by the clinging mud as well as a talented, hard-working, well-organised Winchester side.

The match, however, was far from just a big grind up the middle; both sides tried to play open rugby, but the crucial breaks went the visitors’ way.

Taking the lead was always going to be vital and a penalty, awarded after good work from prop Richard Sinel and winger Robert Chapman, gave stand-off Cruz George a tough chance of three points wide on the right. An excellent effort against the wind fell just short of the bar and Winchester, after a tremendous maul struggle, eventually cleared the danger.

The visitors broke the deadlock with a disputed score just before the break, a chip over the Jersey defence by stand-off James Chapman-Rodgers, being chased down by Hamish Miller. No try, claimed the Jersey team, but Island referee William Whitehouse had no doubts that Miller touched down. Chapman-Rodgers added an easy conversion and Jersey trailed 7-0.

Jersey responded magnificently after the break and good pressure earned a penalty close to the visitors’ posts. Ignoring advice to kick the points Jersey’s adventure was rewarded with a try from centre Aaron Young on the right.

George’s conversion went agonisingly close, but wide.

But Winchester, using rolling substitutions, weathered the storm and an excellent, long solo run on the left from No 14 Max Viadottol was finished with aplomb under the posts. Chapman-Rodgers converted and Jersey were facing an uphill struggle.

Winchester finished the stronger of the sides, scoring again in the dying seconds with Harry Owen dropping down from a rolling maul after taking a flip pass from No 8 Sam Spicer.