It comes down to this: after almost six months of competitive action, JRFC know that the Regional 2 South Central league title, and promotion, can be secured with a home win against Newbury Blues at CoinShares Park.
The potential endgame was set up after the cancellation of the trip to Winchester two weeks ago – that matter’s still in the hands of the league’s organising committee – and provides a chance to seal the deal in front of home supporters.
Not that the visitors are likely to make it easy for their hosts: Newbury will no doubt be inspired by their 15-12 win over Winchester last month, as well as the recent achievement of Guildford in marking their #IslandBreak with a win over the league leaders.
The men in red had a weekend off from league action last Saturday, but not from rugby, with a fiercely-contested friendly against Caldy 2nd XV. The men from the Wirral kept up a five-year winning run with a 10-0 victory in challenging weather conditions, albeit their squad was boosted with plenty of players to have featured in their club’s RFU Championship campaign during the season to date.
Last season a narrow defeat to Caldy was credited with toughening up the JRFC side prior to Siam Cup success against Guernsey – can the same fixture spark another significant win this time around?
Landick’s Lines and team news
Rather than trot out dubious “just another game” claims while trying to keep straight faces, the Head Coach and his squad seem happy to embrace the occasion, and determined to use the hit-out against Caldy as a positive launch pad.
“We were really tested last Saturday, and would like to think Caldy were too,” he said. “Certainly the squad were chuffed at the way we played and want to take that into this week.
“We had an immense session when we trained on Tuesday – the levels of physicality, skill and intensity were through the roof.”
Landick was also pleased to note no major injury concerns after the friendly encounter, with the only major change seeing regular number 8 George Willmott move to the bench.
The Head Coach explained: “George is away on a course for two weeks and hasn’t been able to train, although he can get back in time for the game, so Tom Tilstone, who’s gone really well in recent weeks, gets the start and George is a replacement.
“We’ve got a strong bench – it’s great to have Ewan Davies back as a front row option, and Sam Harvey will cover the backs.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Charlie Hubert; Tom Bulfin, Scott Van Breda, Dom Mayo, Nathan Rogers; Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; Joe Ridgway, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Euan Spencer, Jerry Sexton, Evan Whitson (capt), Tom Tilstone, Tim Corson. Replacements: Ewan Davies, George Willmott, Sam Harvey.
Previous encounters
In November last year, three first-half tries courtesy of Jack Macfarlane and a brace from Willmott helped the men in red to 19-5 half-time lead at Monks Lane, with the hosts try scored by Toby Thorne. JRFC went one better after the break, with Macfarlane (again), Tim Corson, Charlie Hubert and Max Harrington all crossing and kicker-for-the-day Scott Van Breda succeeding with six of his seven shots at goal.
The only previous encounters between the sides were in National Two South in 2010/11, when Landick was a member of the Jersey squad. The Island side were very much on the up, while Newbury were in the midst of a slide down the leagues, and the end result(s) saw heavy defeats for the men from Berkshire. The end of the season couldn’t come soon enough for the Blues, while the Reds were promoted after play-off success against Loughborough Students
Newbury RFC
Newbury RFC have a couple of significant anniversaries coming up in four years’ time, having been formed in 1928 and playing their home games at their Monks Lane ground since 1958.
In the 37 seasons since league rugby began in 1987, Newbury have moved leagues no fewer than 15 times after starting in Courage South West 1 – level five. By 1996 the club reached level 3, and the mid-noughties brought promotion to level two (National 1 as it was then) while future England Sevens coach Ben Ryan was in charge of the playing squad.
A lucrative sponsorship deal with Newbury-based telecoms business Vodafone ended at around the time the UK economy went into reverse later that decade, signaling a decline in the club’s fortunes that brought four successive relegations.
Things have been more stable over the past 12 seasons at levels five or six, although the club’s focus has shifted eastwards after switching from SW1(E) to R2SC in 2022.
The Blues finished third last season, winning 15 of their 22 league games, but this season has been tougher, with seven wins from 19 games so far leaving them 10th-ranked of the 12 clubs at this stage.
Parish Notices
After the recent news about CoinShares coming on board as the primary sponsor, the club have been delighted to announce that a platinum sponsorship agreement with Ogier will start this June: another important development in enabling JRFC to plan with confidence for the future.
After this weekend there’s just one weekend until Easter, with JRFC Men away to Tottonians – currently second in the table – next Saturday. The league season will then conclude on Saturday April 6th, away to Witney.
JRFC Women have a few weekends off and will be holding a cake sale at CoinShares Park to raise funds for Siam Cup travel, and may have half an eye out for Sunday’s results as nearest league rivals Seaford play another game in hand. As things stand our ladies need one more win, which they can secure in their next game, a clash with Beckenham at CoinShares Park on Saturday April 6th that has ‘SAVE-THE-DATE’ written all over it.
The home season for both our sides will conclude with a double-header on Saturday April 20th (girls against Silhillians, boys against Chinnor) and then all eyes will turn to the Siam Cup, with four games in Guernsey on Saturday May 4th.
With the today’s lunch sold out, supporters seeking to join one of the two April lunches should book early to secure their spots by emailing events@jrfc.je
Fixture info is available via the ‘Teams’ tabs on our website: jerseyrfc.rfu.club
Ogier announcement: jerseyrfc.rfu.club/news/ogier-continues-commitment-to-local-rugby-with-platinum-sponsorship-of-jersey-rfc
Caldy match report: jerseyrfc.rfu.club/match/1105909/jersey-rfc-vs-caldy/
The potential endgame was set up after the cancellation of the trip to Winchester two weeks ago – that matter’s still in the hands of the league’s organising committee – and provides a chance to seal the deal in front of home supporters.
Not that the visitors are likely to make it easy for their hosts: Newbury will no doubt be inspired by their 15-12 win over Winchester last month, as well as the recent achievement of Guildford in marking their #IslandBreak with a win over the league leaders.
The men in red had a weekend off from league action last Saturday, but not from rugby, with a fiercely-contested friendly against Caldy 2nd XV. The men from the Wirral kept up a five-year winning run with a 10-0 victory in challenging weather conditions, albeit their squad was boosted with plenty of players to have featured in their club’s RFU Championship campaign during the season to date.
Last season a narrow defeat to Caldy was credited with toughening up the JRFC side prior to Siam Cup success against Guernsey – can the same fixture spark another significant win this time around?
Landick’s Lines and team news
Rather than trot out dubious “just another game” claims while trying to keep straight faces, the Head Coach and his squad seem happy to embrace the occasion, and determined to use the hit-out against Caldy as a positive launch pad.
“We were really tested last Saturday, and would like to think Caldy were too,” he said. “Certainly the squad were chuffed at the way we played and want to take that into this week.
“We had an immense session when we trained on Tuesday – the levels of physicality, skill and intensity were through the roof.”
Landick was also pleased to note no major injury concerns after the friendly encounter, with the only major change seeing regular number 8 George Willmott move to the bench.
The Head Coach explained: “George is away on a course for two weeks and hasn’t been able to train, although he can get back in time for the game, so Tom Tilstone, who’s gone really well in recent weeks, gets the start and George is a replacement.
“We’ve got a strong bench – it’s great to have Ewan Davies back as a front row option, and Sam Harvey will cover the backs.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Charlie Hubert; Tom Bulfin, Scott Van Breda, Dom Mayo, Nathan Rogers; Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; Joe Ridgway, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Euan Spencer, Jerry Sexton, Evan Whitson (capt), Tom Tilstone, Tim Corson. Replacements: Ewan Davies, George Willmott, Sam Harvey.
Previous encounters
In November last year, three first-half tries courtesy of Jack Macfarlane and a brace from Willmott helped the men in red to 19-5 half-time lead at Monks Lane, with the hosts try scored by Toby Thorne. JRFC went one better after the break, with Macfarlane (again), Tim Corson, Charlie Hubert and Max Harrington all crossing and kicker-for-the-day Scott Van Breda succeeding with six of his seven shots at goal.
The only previous encounters between the sides were in National Two South in 2010/11, when Landick was a member of the Jersey squad. The Island side were very much on the up, while Newbury were in the midst of a slide down the leagues, and the end result(s) saw heavy defeats for the men from Berkshire. The end of the season couldn’t come soon enough for the Blues, while the Reds were promoted after play-off success against Loughborough Students
Newbury RFC
Newbury RFC have a couple of significant anniversaries coming up in four years’ time, having been formed in 1928 and playing their home games at their Monks Lane ground since 1958.
In the 37 seasons since league rugby began in 1987, Newbury have moved leagues no fewer than 15 times after starting in Courage South West 1 – level five. By 1996 the club reached level 3, and the mid-noughties brought promotion to level two (National 1 as it was then) while future England Sevens coach Ben Ryan was in charge of the playing squad.
A lucrative sponsorship deal with Newbury-based telecoms business Vodafone ended at around the time the UK economy went into reverse later that decade, signaling a decline in the club’s fortunes that brought four successive relegations.
Things have been more stable over the past 12 seasons at levels five or six, although the club’s focus has shifted eastwards after switching from SW1(E) to R2SC in 2022.
The Blues finished third last season, winning 15 of their 22 league games, but this season has been tougher, with seven wins from 19 games so far leaving them 10th-ranked of the 12 clubs at this stage.
Parish Notices
After the recent news about CoinShares coming on board as the primary sponsor, the club have been delighted to announce that a platinum sponsorship agreement with Ogier will start this June: another important development in enabling JRFC to plan with confidence for the future.
After this weekend there’s just one weekend until Easter, with JRFC Men away to Tottonians – currently second in the table – next Saturday. The league season will then conclude on Saturday April 6th, away to Witney.
JRFC Women have a few weekends off and will be holding a cake sale at CoinShares Park to raise funds for Siam Cup travel, and may have half an eye out for Sunday’s results as nearest league rivals Seaford play another game in hand. As things stand our ladies need one more win, which they can secure in their next game, a clash with Beckenham at CoinShares Park on Saturday April 6th that has ‘SAVE-THE-DATE’ written all over it.
The home season for both our sides will conclude with a double-header on Saturday April 20th (girls against Silhillians, boys against Chinnor) and then all eyes will turn to the Siam Cup, with four games in Guernsey on Saturday May 4th.
With the today’s lunch sold out, supporters seeking to join one of the two April lunches should book early to secure their spots by emailing events@jrfc.je
Fixture info is available via the ‘Teams’ tabs on our website: jerseyrfc.rfu.club
Ogier announcement: jerseyrfc.rfu.club/news/ogier-continues-commitment-to-local-rugby-with-platinum-sponsorship-of-jersey-rfc
Caldy match report: jerseyrfc.rfu.club/match/1105909/jersey-rfc-vs-caldy/
