New signing Donovan Sanders, who impressed at No 12, scored Jersey’s first try. Picture by Rob Currie (00766726)

BOTH the Jersey and Bournemouth RFC coaches took great heart from a game which the home side won 12-7 at St Peter on Saturday and for similar reasons.

First, was their defence, when the other side laid constant siege to their opponent’s line. Second was the flair that individual players showed at times, even though for Jersey this was the first game of the season, with Bournemouth having played and lost 24-22 to Nuneaton last weekend.

‘I knew that they would be a tough side and they kept up the pressure right to the end,’ said Jersey coach Ben Harvey afterwards. ‘To be fair to them, they had a well drilled scrummage and for the last 20 minutes looked particularly dangerous and really tested our defences. ‘But we scrabbled back well at times, crossed the gain line well and I was pleased by what I saw in our strength as individuals.’

David Dunn, for Bournemouth, said: ‘As a pre-season weekender this was an excellent experience. Jersey clung on well at the end but we also defended strongly, and I thought they have some fine individuals; although in turn I was pleased by what I saw in my team. I was hoping we’d score at the end to make it a 12-all draw, but as a pre-season friendly it was well worth the travel.’