Jersey fail to ruin Coventry’s big day back

Jersey fail to ruin Coventry’s big day back

Hosts Coventry recovered from the concession of two early tries, withstood a torrid conclusion to the first half that included a brace of yellow cards, and then dominated the second half.

Unable to maintain the momentum that saw the majority of their league points won away from home last season, the Reds were left licking their wounds, notably a suspected ruptured achilles tendon for prop Alec Clarey. The visitors headed home with a lone bonus point, achieved with the last kick of the game through Brett Herron’s penalty.

A thunderous reception accompanied the home side’s entry to the field, marking an eight-year wait for rugby at this level since ‘Cov’ were relegated at the end of the inaugural season of the RFU Championship. But the crowd were silenced by early Jersey pressure; first Jason Worrall was superbly tackled by David Halaifonua in the corner, but soon afterwards the winger took an audacious long pass from Brett Herron, cut inside and made space for Auguy Slowik to race over in the corner.

Soon afterwards the Reds’ mauling prowess was showcased with a well-worked lineout move that saw Nick Selway open his try-scoring account for the season.

The temporarily-subdued atmosphere stemmed not only from Jersey’s productive start, but also from the home side squandering several opportunities. Winger James Stokes had a half to forget, failing to keep hold of two interception attempts and then somehow failing to ground the ball after going over in the corner – credit to Slowik for his tackle after Stokes was slow to ground the ball. Home skipper Heath Stevens, one of three former Jersey players in the starting XV, then crossed and touched down, but the scoring pass was ruled forward.

Finally the hosts were able to get on the scoreboard, first through Will Maisey’s penalty and then after a spell of pressure that culminated in another ex-Red, James Voss, strolling over unopposed in the corner.

Although barely two minutes remained of the half after Voss’s try, the Reds had time to establish a platform on the Cov line, and as the hosts defended desperately, two-thirds of their back row saw yellow. First of all Latu Maka’afi, still going strong 12 years after becoming one of Jersey’s first pro players, was dispatched to the bin for dragging down the maul and then fellow Tongan Jack Ram killed the ball and earned a card of his own.

A third Jersey try looked inevitable, but in seeking to press home the advantage from their scrum, the visitors were penalised and Coventry headed to the dressing room relieved to have maintained their deficit at two points.

Staying in the game was the home side’s priority after the break and in truth they survived the remainder of the sin-bin period with few alarms. Jersey had begun to ring the changes with Charlie Maddison, Janco Venter and Leeroy Atalifo coming on, the latter entering the fray during a lengthy interruption for injury to Clarey, who departed on a stretcher.

Scrum-half Homer had been a lively presence for Jersey, and his break almost set up a try, with Worrall taking the ball within ten metres of the line but failing to find Roy Godfrey with a pass that was nearer the skipper’s forehead than his ‘bread-basket’.

Tongan full-back Halaifonua gave his side the lead for the first time, crossing after replacement flanker Ben Adams launched a pacy counter-attack.

There were chances at both ends and it was something of a mystery that the total try tally was not far higher than four. Koch Marx and Apakuki Ma’afu both broke through but couldn’t find support runners, while Venter was a rampaging presence in the loose. But Cov also looked dangerous, and only desperate scrambling by Mark Best stopped Stevens scoring after a 60-metre race after a kick ahead.

Best’s defensive rearguard took its toll and proved to be his last contribution, with Homer pressed into service on the wing after Worrall’s earlier departure for a head injury assessment, James Newey and Hilton Mudariki joining the action.

Maisey gave his side breathing space with a penalty, and the Reds could have finished the game empty-handed but for Herron’s late three-pointer from the home side’s ten-metre line.

Tellingly, this was just about the first penalty Coventry had conceded in the second half, after an ill-disciplined first 40, and helped the hosts claim the win they craved on their Championship return.

  • Coventry 20

Tries: Voss 38, Halaifonua 52

Cons: Maisey 38, 52

Pens: Maisey 31, 71

  • Jersey Reds 15

Tries: Slowik 10, Selway 15

Con: Herron 15

Pen: Herron 80

Attendance: 2,003 HT: 10-12

Coventry (1-15): James Gibbons, Phil Nilsen, Phil Boulton, Tom Jubb, James Voss, Adam Peters, Jack Ram (YC 40), Latu Makaafi (YC 40); Pete White, Will Maisey; James Stokes, Sam Tuitupou, Heath Stevens (capt), Rob Knox; David Halaifonua.

Replacements: Ben Adams (for Knox, 40 mins), Tony Fenner (Maka’afi 46), Scott Tolmie (Nilsen 46), Charlie Beech (Boulton 46), Pete White (Kessell 50), Kailus Hutchinson (Peters 68). Not used: Luc Jeannot.

Jersey Reds (1-15): Roy Godfrey (capt), Nick Selway, Alec Clarey, Jerry Sexton, Dave Mckern, Max Argyle, Conor Joyce, Kyle Hatherell; Will Homer, Brett Herron; Jason Worrall, Mark Best, Apakuki Ma’afu, Koch Marx; Auguy Slowik.

Replacements: Charlie Maddison (for Selway, 44 mins), Janco Venter (Hatherell 44), Leeroy Atalifo (Clarey 50), James Newey (Worrall 58), Charlie Beckett (Mckern 60), Hilton Mudariki (Best 60), Cameron Holenstein (Godfery 68).

Referee: Christophe Ridley; Assistants: Paul Burton, Nigel Carrick.

Place kickers: Maisey (Coventry) 4 from 5; Herron (Jersey) 2 from 3

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –