Sutton & Epsom Ladies II 14
Jersey RFC Women 34
Tries: Le Luan (2), De La Cloche, Portsmouth, Langlands, Bisson-Mercury
Conversions: Magner (2)
Player of the match: Willow Le Luan
JERSEY RFC Women concluded their remarkable NC 2 South East (South) campaign with a thumping victory against Sutton & Epsom Ladies II.
This win recorded an outstanding 13th win out of 14 league games for the Islanders, with just the one defeat all season.
Head coach Simon Le Moignan said: “It was a typical Jersey performance. It was a back and forward first half with both teams having success, but we showed what we’re about in the second half and played some excellent rugby.”
Second-row forward, Willow Le Luan, opened the scoring for the visitors with a smart move early on, which was expertly converted by the wand of a right boot from vice-captain Ashling Magner.
However, Jersey were pegged back before half-time as Sutton & Epsom flexed their muscles with a converted try to level the score going into the break.
“We knew we had to get the ball wider in the second half,” Le Moignan continued. “Once we started using the width of the pitch, we started to drag them wider and out of position. The gaps created gave us the chances – we were clinical.”
It was Le Luan at the double early in the second half, before Nancy Portsmouth added the team’s third to give the Caesareans a 17-7 lead.
The league champions refused to take their foot off the gas on a hot day, with inspirational captain Katie De La Cloche adding her name to the try-scorers list, this time converted again by Magner.
Emilie Langlands smashed her way through the Sutton defence for Jersey’s fifth try, before Kerry Bisson-Mercury, moved out onto the wing, finished off another excellent wide move.
Sutton & Epsom however, are the second highest point scorers in the league for a reason. They competed to the very end and claimed the final score of the match. A converted try with the last play of the match from the home side made the final score slightly closer than the game flow suggested, but deserved none the less for their efforts.
Jersey’s head coach was quick to praise his side’s physical prowess, saying: “We have had several games this season where the first half has proved much closer than the second.
“I think this is down to the fitness and training our girls have.
“They are able to outwork teams as the game moves deeper, which always gives us opportunities to score in the latter stages.
“With promotion now secured, we know these fitness levels are going to be even more important next season when we will be playing at a higher standard.”
Both the Jersey RFC men’s and women’s teams can now turn their attention fully to their channel island rivals, as the SIam Cup looms ever closer.
After a comprehensive 35-5 home win last year for the women, they will be aiming to retain the inter-insular trophy on enemy territory this year when they travel to Footes Lane on Saturday May 4th.
“It’s never easy over there!” continued Le Moignan.
“They’re going to throw everything they have at us and we know we will have to be at our best to beat them.
“Although we won it last year and it was a pleasing scoreline, anything can happen away from home and the girls are incredibly switched on.
“A win over there would be the perfect end to an outstanding season.
“I could not be prouder of this group and I know they will represent Jersey with ultimate pride and hopefully bring the Siam back with us.”
Jersey RFC Women’s squad:
[1-15] Lucy Hart, Hannah Le Moignan, Nicole Rodrigues Ferreira, Willow Le Luan, Emilie Langlands, Andi Vaughan, Katie De La Cloche (c), Kerry Bisson-Mercury, Ashling Magner (vc), Nancy Portsmouth, Bethan Hughes, Emily Hart, Taye Boakye-Yiadom, Claudia McGuigan, Charlie Cornwall
Replacements: Franky Vautier, Becka Hunter, Helen Papworth, Seren Coombs
