Jersey RFC open season with defeat

Jersey RFC's head coach says there's lots of positives to take, despite opening the new league season with defeat.

Early tries in each half helped London Welsh to a 33-22 victory at CoinShares Park.

There was barely 90 seconds on the clock when Olise Monye scored on debut, with Buster Wilkins extending the visitors' lead after 32 minutes.

Jersey replied immediately with Rhys Thomas scoring in the corner, and Kade Bird helped to reduce the deficit further before half-time.

However, just like in the first-half, London Welsh started quickly and Wilkins scored his second try of the day.

Monye then scored his second try and Harry Breeze got on the scoreboard to extend the lead, before Jersey finished strongly with a couple of tries to bring a final score of 33-22 to London Welsh.

Myles Landick, Director of Rugby, said:

"There's still lots of positives there, we weren't a million miles off.

"Our discipline probably let us down in large parts, I can't fault the intent from the playing group, but like I said to the playing group after the game, last season we probably gave away 17-18 penalties in a game and got away with it and still won.

"Not that we want to give that many penalties away, but we would've won the game still and that's the big difference in this league is straight away in the second half, missed tackle, high tackle, they score in the corner. That's just how ruthless it is.

"We're not a million miles off are we. We took them apart up front at scrum time, got a lot of joy there. Our maul functioned really well but we've got to do a couple of bits defensively on that.

"It's a frustrating one isn't it. There was an air of pre-season about that game. We only had two games in pre-season and one we took a young set of lads away and one of them we didn't have everyone available with injuries and stuff like that.

"Not making any excuses, but some of those guys are playing rugby for the first time this season against a strong London Welsh side.

"I think everyone can see we're not far off it, but we've got to be more clinical and if we are more clinical, we'll certainly pick up some results.

"Really pleasing how we played the last 20 minutes, definitely. To get back in it and get the bonus point score as well, give us 15 more minutes and who knows!

"That's all the what-ifs, but we've got to focus on the areas we need to work on."

Jersey are back in action next Saturday, with a tasty home clash against Guernsey.

Meanwhile, Jersey Bulls secured a replay in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup after a goalless draw at Burgess Hill Town.

It will be played at Leylands Park again on Tuesday (8 September).