We started positively, during the first few minutes both teams were getting the measure of each other. Saull, Buzz and Nilsen all made good carries, and Georgiou was bundled into touch while heading to the line. We got a penalty from the first scrum, which Leonard duly kicked. So far so good. 

But at the next scrum (which to my uneducated eye looked similar to the first) it was Jersey’s turn to win the penalty, and a sustained period of pressure on our line began. We kept them out for a while but there was an inevitability about the attack, and Haining  powered over for the try. The ref originally seemed to signal it was held up, but he awarded it after consulting with the Touch Judge (see they do have a purpose). 16 minutes and it was 3-5. 

From the restart Georgiou and Buzz combined down the right hand side, and Leonard soon had the chance to put his team back in front again with a penalty. But for the rest of the half, our performance was woeful. Dropped restarts (the sun was very strong in that corner), poor decision making and kicking, and conceded penalties. Stegmann had the chance of an interception, however tried to kick it not catch it, so it came to nothing. Dean Schofield was binned, and the next Jersey try came directly from a poor kick from Leonard. The ball was dropped in the buildup but the ref (correctly) judged that it had gone backwards and Jack Moates scored under the posts. 6-12 and worse was to come when Jersey crossed for their 3rd try through James Freeman on 31 minutes, 6-19. 

A well worked try from Charlie Beech who was on the end of a rolling maul settled the nerves and took us to 13-19 but the half wasn’t done yet. Another poor restart and we were back under pressure. The pressure told, and Nilsen was binned. We were possibly lucky to escape with only conceding 3 points but went in 13-22 behind. 

News at halftime that Bris were 6-22 behind to Bedford and were apparently playing worse than us was scant consolation, as most of the crowd were hoping we would soon wake up and find the first half had been a nightmare. 

In the second half we had to defend early on, but we seemed to gain confidence from forcing a turnover on our line, then had a comic moment when Saull threw the Lineout straight to a Jersey player,but we learned that lesson and Jack Walker came on and Stegmann off (Nilsen’s binning lasted 14 mins of the second half according to the clock, although this doesn’t stop). Further replacements followed- Beech, Schofield and Saull replaced by Imiolek, Ryder and Walker, and our renaissance started. Chris Walker scored a well worked try from a catch and drive from a Lineout, and after a Georgiou break up the edge of the 22, it was Jersey’s turn for a yellow card and we finally took the lead from a Mike Myersough try, both duly converted by Leonard. The tide had turned, Tideswell and Forsyth came on and Chris Walker scored his second and our bonus point try to the delight of the crowd. The final try was a true team effort, and eventually Tom Ryder got on the end of it and scored the 5th try, 39-22 the final score. 

So 5 tries, all scored by forwards. I feel the final score flattered us, but the win was deserved. 26 unanswered points in the second half was testament to our increased composure, doing the basics better, the impact of our bench, and Jersey tiring. Finally we looked like a team who has had 13 weeks pre-season together and not a group of players who had never met.  

 Leonard was the official man of the match, and Fitzpatrick and Chris Walker were worthy contenders but my vote for the bottle of fizz goes to Buzz.I doubt Brush will be happy with the performance but it was good to get the win- more than some of our rivals did. Lots to work on for next week. Onwards and Upwards!