Jersey RFC’s first away-day of 2024 sees a maiden voyage to Oaklands Park for the return match in a season where the Island side and Chichester RFC have been in the same division for the first time.
The two clubs, whose first date took place in Jersey at the end of September, were at the same level of the English pyramid for several seasons in the late ‘90s and early noughties, but separated by the county boundary between Sussex and Hampshire, as will be explained later on.
September’s meeting came with Jersey rugby in a state of distraction following the news, confirmed barely 50 hours before kick-off, that the professional side Jersey Reds had ceased trading.
Getting not one but two games on at St Peter that weekend – with the women’s XV also in action – wasn’t easy, but did provide an opportunity for the rugby family to come together, supporting those who had lost their jobs overnight and underlining the determination to keep the rugby flag flying on the Island. It wasn’t the easiest few days, but getting two games on was a minor triumph, and after two wins the beer tasted pretty good as well.
Fast forward four months and JRFC arrive in West Sussex on a 14-match winning streak, while Chichester lie 10th after an up-and-down campaign.
Both sides go into the game having started the year with five-point wins, although both of them knew they were in a game. Jersey were stretched more than has been the case in most games this season before going through the gears to beat Farnham 47-33. The match report is available at jerseyrfc.rfu.club/match/1062431/jersey-rfc-vs-farnham-rfc/
Chichester travelled to Newbury for a ninth v 10th clash and racked up an impressive 26-3 lead at half-time. The hosts powered back in the third quarter to trail by just four points, but the men from the south coast gritted their teeth, defended for their lives and held on to win 26-22, closing to within a point of Newbury in the table.
Landick’s Lines
Looking back to the September encounter, Head Coach Myles Landick said:
“It had been a difficult week, and at one stage during the match I was called over to help arrange beer supplies so supporters could have a drink in the bar afterwards, but I don’t want to use that as an excuse.
“It’s fair to say we weren’t quite on it during the game, but we still managed to score 30-odd points and were pleased to get the win.”
Switching his focus to January, Landick added: “We need to be ready for the fact that teams will come at us hard at us, just as Farnham did last weekend, and we need to weather that a bit better, especially when our opponents have their home supporters behind them.
“It’s been a difficult week with the weather leaving us training inside at CrossFit on Tuesday, but we’d hope to get outside on Thursday and will be ready to go on Saturday morning.”
Team news
Landick makes four changes and a positional switch between the starting XV against Farnham and his line-up for this weekend.
Charlie Hubert returns at full-back and Sam Harvey will start on the wing as students Dylan Stocks and Anushan Elanco resume their studies, while Tom Bulfin comes into midfield after Nathan Rogers suffered concussion last weekend.
Nathan Thomas, a replacement against Farnham, moves into the starting line-up and will partner Cam Querée in the second row, which means Jerry Sexton will shift to back row and wear number 6. The Irishman will take the place of the unavailable Evan Whitson, which means hooker Jack Macfarlane will skipper the side.
Landick said: “Jack’s always a leader in this side, he’s a vocal and was the obvious choice.”
Ewan Davies and Jack Preston will provide forward cover on the bench, while Liam Rhodes is the third replacement and will slot in as required in the back line.
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Charlie Hubert; Eryk Swiech, Tom Bulfin, Dom Mayo, Sam Harvey; Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane (capt), Tom Wilson, Cameron Quereé, Nathan Thomas, Jerry Sexton, Euan Spencer, George Willlmott. Replacements: Ewan Davies, Jack Preston, Liam Rhodes.
Previous encounter – September 30th, 2023
First half tries from Roy Godfrey, Fergus Ludlam and Evan Whiston, plus Charlie Hubert’s conversion, gave JRFC a 17-0 lead at the break, but Chichester fought back after the resumption with a try from Rhys Thompson and Dom Taylor’s penalty.
The hosts finished strongly as Hubert added a fourth try and two conversions, the latter following the fifth and final try by Euan Spencer to make the final score 31-8.
Chichester RFC
The club is close to celebrating a centenary, having been founded in 1926. On resuming rugby after the Second World War, Chichester set up home at their Oakland Park in 1946.
In 1987, when leagues were introduced in England, the club were placed in Sussex Division One, level 8 of the pyramid, and then promoted in 1990.
For several seasons in the ‘90s and early noughties Jersey RFC and Chichester played at the same level, but as a Sussex club Chichester were in London 3 SE, while the Hampshire-affiliated Island side found themselves in L3SW for ten straight seasons before being promoted in 2005.
Chichester’s highest league status came when they played at level five from 2014 to 2017, and for the past six-and-a-half years they have been at level six, finishing ninth out of the 12 teams in Regional 2 South Central.
This season has brought four wins and a draw from 14 games: prior to last weekend, the wins came at home to Guildford and Witney, and away to Reading.
Among the club’s roll of notable former players, the senior citizen is Derek Wyatt, who won a single England cap against Scotland in 1976, while more recently Charlie Matthews and Kieran Low have played at the top level for Harlequins and London Irish respectively. Several female players have won international caps, including 2006 World Cup finalists Jenny Lyne and Vanessa Gray and, more recently, flying wing Jess Breach.
Parish Notices
JRFC Women will not be in action this weekend, but the ladies are preparing for back-to-back away games against Beckenham on Sunday January 21st and Beccehamians on Saturday January 27th.
After a weekend off for the JRFC men, there will be an all-male double-header on Saturday January 27th, when Guildford visit the Island and will contest a morning Vets match against the Wanderers ahead of the 1st XVs locking horns at 2.15pm.
