Their 2nd XV were coming to play against our 2nds in the league,’ explained Curzons, ‘and we were asked if we’d like to play an under-18 team as well.’We were delighted.
Last year in the end-of-season inter-insular they couldn’t raise an under-19 side, although our under-16s won quite convincingly.’I’d expect us to beat them.’He knows very little about the Guernsey team; how many games they’ve had this season; where their strengths lie or where they’ve got the players from.However, the more games he can get for his Jersey team, the better.There are some exceptional teenage players in Jersey and the 1st team coach, Dai Burton, will be picking more than one away against Effingham on Saturday.For this game Curzons is sticking to a genuine under-18 team, although he has been told that at least five of the Guernsey side will be a year older.’I was pleased they put us in the picture, and apparently the two props are both 19, but they’re new to the game.’That should be no problem.
Ross Kenwright propped against big lads in the UK and more than held his own.
The lads are looking forward to it.’Squad: Ross Kenwright (captain), Phil Lane, Karl Hayes, Jamie Allan, Lee Cornish, Ryan Morgan, Michael Soley, Nick Trower, Bruno Pirouet, David Meacock, Peter Carne, Carl Gavey, Luc Mathew, Blake Arrowsmith, Dominic Band, Jamie Halksworth, Ross Michalski.Meanwhile, Jersey’s under-13 rugby team won one game and lost another when they travelled to Lincolnshire to play against Deeping RFC and Boston RFC last weekend.
Against Deeping on Saturday they were handicapped by the long coach journey to the club and by a couple of missed tackles against the home side’s big centre who scored early on.However, the team showed great character and responded with a try of their own under the posts by Harry Burke, the fly-half, who displayed good strength in heavy traffic to force his way over following a 5m scrum.Unfortunately, more weak tackling allowed the Deeping centre to score a hat-trick and to set up a brace of tries for his outside partner before half-time.Following the break, at 31-7 down, a lesser side may have given up.
But much to their credit Jersey responded positively.
A re-jigged back line started to make use of the ball the pack was providing.
Oliver Gleave broke away and, finding himself isolated, decided to go all the way to the line to score his first try for Jersey in the corner.
Late in the game Harry Burke set off on a long, arching run, which culminated in his second try.
Burke converted, which meant that Jersey might have lost the overall game but had ‘won’ the second half 12-5.The self-belief and confidence gained from the latter stages of the game against Deeping was to pay off on Sunday at Boston.After overnighting at the superb Tattershall Country Club the squad were looking forward to their second and last game of the two-day mini-tour.In an elegant display of rugby, Jersey then dominated the first half with strong scrummaging from the forwards and good distribution in the backs.
Captain Harry Burke again opened the scoring with a decisive break from 20m which saw him score a try under the posts.
He calmly added the extra two points.Shortly afterwards Oli Gleave showed that he now knew the way to the line.
Concerted pressure from the pack provided good ball for out-half Burke to pop a perfectly timed pass to put in his centre in a gap and under the posts.
Once again he converted.Good work in the loose by Joe Ellyatt and Andy Woodward then helped the reds win several phases of play before the ball was spread wide by the backs for Christian Hilton to take a difficult catch and score in the corner.Unfortunately, the team blotted their copybook slightly when a quickly taken tap penalty allowed Boston to finally break out of their 22 and go the length of the field to score at the death.
However, the final score of 19-5 to Jersey was just reward for a team performance.It is hoped the links forged with the two Lincolnshire clubs will lead to return matches in the future.Jersey U13 squad : W Campbell, T Breeze, P Casey, T Taylor, J Lane, A Woodward, W Glenn, J Ellyatt, H Manners, H Burke (c), G Yates, O Gleave, C Hilton, M Gray, L Pearce, E Moody, A Crowther, B Le Clerq.Coaches: Tony Taylor and Bob Le Brocq.
Assistants: Ellyatt, Taylor, and P and C Campbell.The tour was sponsored by the HSBC.
