Jersey rugby ace Matt Banahan

JERSEYMAN Matt Banahan’s dream end to the season got even better at the weekend with a superb man-of the-match performance in winning his first England rugby cap in their test victory over Argentina.

Perhaps fittingly playing at the Old Trafford ‘Theatre of Dreams’, Liverpool FC fan Banahan not only scored England’s opening try on Saturday, but also did as much as he possibly could to ensure that he will not become, as he had admitted being concerned about before the match, a one-cap wonder.

Pubs, clubs (and no doubt several private households) erupted after 25 minutes of the first half of the Standard Bank Trophy match to salute the  22-year-old Jerseyman when the left-winger popped up on the right flank to take advantage of a fortuitous bounce from Delon Armitage’s kick through.

Almost instantly clear of the three Pumas’ defenders in the area, former Jersey RFC player Banahan had time to raise his fist in triumph before touching down under the posts to help put England 14-3 ahead.

His joy was, unsurprisingly, unconfined.
Watched by parents Malcolm and Ann and brother Paul, Banahan was taking his England chance with both hands and certainly building on the good impression he made with boss Martin Johnson the previous weekend in scoring against the Barbarians in a non-cap friendly.

See Monday’s JEP for full story.