Desire wins the day

Monday 18th January 2010, 3:00PM GMT.

The home crowd roar Jersey’s Ed Dawson on as he evades the first of two challenges on his way to scoring the only try of the match. Picture: ROB CURRIE (00871980)

JERSEY RFC’s desire to win automatic promotion from National III South East, and earn the chance of a Twickenham Cup final, pulled them through a desperate last 20 minutes at St Peter on Saturday.

Victory over their nearest rivals extends the Reds’ lead at the top to 12 points and they are now red-hot favourites to win the title.

Jersey’s eighth consecutive home win, and 14th overall, was delivered, 19-12, against a hard-driving Old Albanians, but not in the usual manner – no bonus point, for the first time, and just the one try – an early cracker from left wing Ed Dawson – to get the crowd roaring.

No, the bumper home crowd were not settled by half-time, with win and bonus point secured, as so often has been the case this term. Rather it was nail-biting time and the urging of a long boot to clear the danger as 12 men hung on for the closing moments, with two in the sin bin and one off injured.

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