A disappointed Jersey side after their two-point defeat (01292392)

JERSEY RFC lost a real thriller by just two points away to Fylde on Saturday, 29-27, but came away with two bonus points from their debut in National I.

Trailing 24-8 at half time after taking the lead through Ross Broadfoot’s debut try and a Michael Le Bourgeois penalty, Jersey put an error-strewn half behind them with a splendid response right from the restart.

Tries from Nick Trower, Donovan Sanders and Guy Thompson earned Jersey a four-try bonus point and with Le Bourgeois kicking two conversions the Reds finished just two points shy of last season’s National II North champions.

A late Le Bourgeois penalty just drifted wide – another yard to the left and Jersey would have led in the closing minutes. But as it was Fylde held out for a bonus point victory worth five points.

Over 100 Jersey fans made the trip, swelling the crowd at the Woodlands to an official 1,100.

• See Tuesday’s JEP for full match report and pictures

Jersey play Birmingham Bees at St Peter next Saturday.