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Jersey Reds made a triumphant home bow for the new season, sweeping aside Yorkshire Carnegie in a powerful display.
After starting this season's Greene King IPA Championship with three away games, each ending in narrow defeat, the Reds had a point to prove when they ran out for the first time at Stade Santander International.
The home side tore into their opponents right from the kick-off and it wasn't long before the frenzied pace produced points on the scoreboard and delighted the home crowd.
Within two minutes Koch Marx carved through on the left and then found skipper Roy Godfrey in support to go over by the posts, and soon afterwards a textbook line-out move saw Jerry Sexton feed the ball to scrum-half Will Homer, who raced to the line. Aaron Penberthy, playing his first competitive game after rejoining the club this summer, and 50th overall for the Reds, added both conversions and it was 14-0 inside six minutes.
Friday night lights!!! #jerseyreds pic.twitter.com/jXm6yr786s
— Jersey Reds Days (@jerseyredsdays) September 28, 2018
The Red momentum was rudely interrupted by a fine score from the visitors; Tom Bullough sliced through at pace, found his centre partner Andy Forsyth and then took a reverse pass before crossing for the try.
Knowing that they needed to make the most of a strong wind at their backs, Jersey claimed two more tries before the interval. Hooker Charlie Maddison finished a powerful rolling maul, and then flanker Conor Joyce broke through and found Jerry Sexton for the fourth try. Penberthy maintained a 100% record from the kicking tee, adding both conversions and a penalty to make it 31-7 at the break.
The emphasis for the home side was on defence when the match resumed, with Carnegie using the conditions to establish an attacking platform in a bid to cut the hosts' lead. Their early efforts were repelled, but then former Reds fly-half Brendan Cope broke through and the ball was quickly worked wide to Chris Elder for the second Yorkshire try.
Pictured: Jerry Sexton scores the Reds' fourth try. (Rich Chapman)
The game became scrappy and the pace dropped slightly, which suited the home side as they looked to stay ahead. And any nerves among the home support were eased with 10 minutes to play when replacement hooker Nick Selway finished off a rolling maul.
Carnegie pressed forward in the closing stages and captain Dan Temm went over at close range from a tapped penalty, but there was no time for the visitors to seek the fourth try that would have brought a consolation bonus point.
Jersey Head Coach Harvey Biljon was delighted to see his side return to winning ways.
Great to get our first win of the season tonight! Fan support was unreal at The Stade #FridayNightLights https://t.co/TfQ1rCn6Sa
— Charlie Beckett (@Charlie_Beckett) September 28, 2018
"I knew we were in a good place and that our previous results could have been different," he said. "We started the match exceptionally well, took our opportunities and I was proud of the boys' efforts in building a lead in the first half and then defending it."
The result helped the Reds off the bottom of the Championship table, moving them up to eighth of the 12 teams.
FINAL RESULT: Jersey Reds - 36 pts, Yorkshire Carnegie - 19 pts
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