After the club’s first encounter with Reading RFC in ‘phew-what-a-scorcher’ weather at the start of the season, JRFC look forward to the return match in somewhat chillier Channel Island climes this weekend.
The Jersey boys kicked off their season with an away win at Holme Park in Sonning when the mercury reached 34c, and went on to complete a perfect first half of the league campaign: 11 wins and 55 points to sit top of Regional 2 South Central.
Most recently JRFC racked up seven tries in an eventually convincing 52-20 home win over second-placed Tottonians last Saturday, with Scott Van Breda claiming a hat-trick before sustaining a late injury. There was also a brace from Nathan Rogers and seven straight conversions – plus a trademark drop-goal – from Aaron Penberthy.
Check out the full match report here: jerseyrfc.rfu.club/match/1062410/jersey-rfc-vs-tottonians/
The visitors to St Peter this weekend have won just twice so far this campaign, but with the exception of two heavy defeats have proved a competitive outfit. Reading showed an ability to topple high-ranked opponents with the recent 17-15 home win over London Irish Wild Geese, one of the stand-out results of the R2SC season to date. The home club will be getting into full-on festive mode, with Santa Claus joining what is hoped to be a decent crowd – the bearded wonder will be in his grotto at the Bowl End from 1.40pm. Christmas jumpers are obligatory, it goes without saying. And the match will kick off at 2.15pm.
Landick’s Lines
“Don’t look at the league table” was the gist of Head Coach Myles Landick’s pre-match commentary. He said: “Reading are clearly a capable team as we saw when they beat London Irish a couple of weeks ago, so it would be very foolish to under-estimate them. “There’s a real determination for us to finish on a high in our last home game before Christmas – I’d like us to repeat the sort of display we saw against Tottonians, and not take our foot off the gas.”
Team news
The home side have named a starting XV showing five changes from the starting line-up which began last Saturday’s match. In the pack, a new-look second row sees Jack Preston and Tom Tilstone paired together, while there’s also a change in the back row as Roy Godfrey comes in for top try-scorer George Willmott. In the backs, Callum Cuthbert assumes the scrum-half position as Max Harrington moves to the bench, and Tom Bulfin slots into Van Breda’s vacated centre berth. Harrington is joined on the bench by two forwards looking to make an impact: Nathan Thomas and Cam Halliwell. Landick said: “We are sadly without two important figures: Bryn Edwards is one of our senior players, he’s had an operation on his ankle but it looks like he’ll be out for the remainder of the season. “Scott Van Breda has been a really important member of the squad in recent weeks and it looks like we’ll be without him for around three months, although I hope he’ll be involved on the coaching side. “There are opportunities for the players who have come in – they’ve earned a chance to get some game-time and I’m looking forward to seeing them in action.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Charlie Hubert; Sam Harvey, Tom Bulfin, Dom Mayo, Nathan Rogers; Aaron Penberthy, Callum Cuthbert; George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Jack Preston, Tom Tilstone, Evan Whitson (capt), Tim Corson, Roy Godfrey. Replacements: Nathan Thomas, Cam Halliwell, Max Harrington.
Previous encounter
Just one match to list here, the men in red winning 34-15 on their trip to Reading’s home patch at the start of September. It was just 12-8 at the break with Reading scoring through Ben Wills’ try and a penalty from Sam Bowers. The second half started with a try apiece, the hosts being a penalty try, but the JRFC went through the gears and showed an ability to play 80 minutes in the heat. Although there were three yellow cards, there were also six tries – from Willmott (2), Jack Macfarlane, Ewan Davies, Eryk Swiech and Halliwell – and two conversions by Charlie Hubert.
Reading RFC
2023 is the club’s 125th anniversary, having been founded as Berkshire Wanderers in 1898. The first home game was played at Berkshire Cricket Club’s ground in Reading, and several other venues staged game prior to the move to the current premises at Holme Park in the late 1930s. The name-change to Reading RFC happened in 1956. The club played at the same level – the fifth tier of the RFU pyramid – as JRFC in 2009/10, competing in National 3 South West while Jersey were the champions of Nat 3 SE and subsequently beat N3SW champions Taunton en route to the national final at Twickenham. Reading spent seven straight seasons in South West 1 until 2017, but then were promoted back to this level in 2022, finishing sixth in R2SC last season.
Parish Notices
Jersey RFC Women have completed their pre-Christmas schedule, having been unfortunately unable to maintain a winning start to the season on their trip to East Grinstead last Sunday. The match was a highly competitive one, but it was the hosts who took the points with a 12-0 win
The last game of 2023 for the JRFC chaps is away to Wimborne on Saturday December 16th, while the next home action for both men and women will be a double-header on Saturday January 6th: the girls at 10.30am against Worthing, and the boys at 2.15pm against Farnham. There’s one other fixture to let you know about too: JRFC Men taking on Caldy 2nd XV, at home, in a friendly on Saturday March 9th.
If you’ve not yet joined up as a member, please do - information and how to sign up is available at https://jerseyrfc.rfu.club/products
Finally, keep an eye on social media and the club website for the match report from the weekend’s game.
Welcome to our visitors, we hope you enjoy your first trip to our Island, and to our home fans and sponsors: thanks for your support!
The Jersey boys kicked off their season with an away win at Holme Park in Sonning when the mercury reached 34c, and went on to complete a perfect first half of the league campaign: 11 wins and 55 points to sit top of Regional 2 South Central.
Most recently JRFC racked up seven tries in an eventually convincing 52-20 home win over second-placed Tottonians last Saturday, with Scott Van Breda claiming a hat-trick before sustaining a late injury. There was also a brace from Nathan Rogers and seven straight conversions – plus a trademark drop-goal – from Aaron Penberthy.
Check out the full match report here: jerseyrfc.rfu.club/match/1062410/jersey-rfc-vs-tottonians/
The visitors to St Peter this weekend have won just twice so far this campaign, but with the exception of two heavy defeats have proved a competitive outfit. Reading showed an ability to topple high-ranked opponents with the recent 17-15 home win over London Irish Wild Geese, one of the stand-out results of the R2SC season to date. The home club will be getting into full-on festive mode, with Santa Claus joining what is hoped to be a decent crowd – the bearded wonder will be in his grotto at the Bowl End from 1.40pm. Christmas jumpers are obligatory, it goes without saying. And the match will kick off at 2.15pm.
Landick’s Lines
“Don’t look at the league table” was the gist of Head Coach Myles Landick’s pre-match commentary. He said: “Reading are clearly a capable team as we saw when they beat London Irish a couple of weeks ago, so it would be very foolish to under-estimate them. “There’s a real determination for us to finish on a high in our last home game before Christmas – I’d like us to repeat the sort of display we saw against Tottonians, and not take our foot off the gas.”
Team news
The home side have named a starting XV showing five changes from the starting line-up which began last Saturday’s match. In the pack, a new-look second row sees Jack Preston and Tom Tilstone paired together, while there’s also a change in the back row as Roy Godfrey comes in for top try-scorer George Willmott. In the backs, Callum Cuthbert assumes the scrum-half position as Max Harrington moves to the bench, and Tom Bulfin slots into Van Breda’s vacated centre berth. Harrington is joined on the bench by two forwards looking to make an impact: Nathan Thomas and Cam Halliwell. Landick said: “We are sadly without two important figures: Bryn Edwards is one of our senior players, he’s had an operation on his ankle but it looks like he’ll be out for the remainder of the season. “Scott Van Breda has been a really important member of the squad in recent weeks and it looks like we’ll be without him for around three months, although I hope he’ll be involved on the coaching side. “There are opportunities for the players who have come in – they’ve earned a chance to get some game-time and I’m looking forward to seeing them in action.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Charlie Hubert; Sam Harvey, Tom Bulfin, Dom Mayo, Nathan Rogers; Aaron Penberthy, Callum Cuthbert; George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Jack Preston, Tom Tilstone, Evan Whitson (capt), Tim Corson, Roy Godfrey. Replacements: Nathan Thomas, Cam Halliwell, Max Harrington.
Previous encounter
Just one match to list here, the men in red winning 34-15 on their trip to Reading’s home patch at the start of September. It was just 12-8 at the break with Reading scoring through Ben Wills’ try and a penalty from Sam Bowers. The second half started with a try apiece, the hosts being a penalty try, but the JRFC went through the gears and showed an ability to play 80 minutes in the heat. Although there were three yellow cards, there were also six tries – from Willmott (2), Jack Macfarlane, Ewan Davies, Eryk Swiech and Halliwell – and two conversions by Charlie Hubert.
Reading RFC
2023 is the club’s 125th anniversary, having been founded as Berkshire Wanderers in 1898. The first home game was played at Berkshire Cricket Club’s ground in Reading, and several other venues staged game prior to the move to the current premises at Holme Park in the late 1930s. The name-change to Reading RFC happened in 1956. The club played at the same level – the fifth tier of the RFU pyramid – as JRFC in 2009/10, competing in National 3 South West while Jersey were the champions of Nat 3 SE and subsequently beat N3SW champions Taunton en route to the national final at Twickenham. Reading spent seven straight seasons in South West 1 until 2017, but then were promoted back to this level in 2022, finishing sixth in R2SC last season.
Parish Notices
Jersey RFC Women have completed their pre-Christmas schedule, having been unfortunately unable to maintain a winning start to the season on their trip to East Grinstead last Sunday. The match was a highly competitive one, but it was the hosts who took the points with a 12-0 win
The last game of 2023 for the JRFC chaps is away to Wimborne on Saturday December 16th, while the next home action for both men and women will be a double-header on Saturday January 6th: the girls at 10.30am against Worthing, and the boys at 2.15pm against Farnham. There’s one other fixture to let you know about too: JRFC Men taking on Caldy 2nd XV, at home, in a friendly on Saturday March 9th.
If you’ve not yet joined up as a member, please do - information and how to sign up is available at https://jerseyrfc.rfu.club/products
Finally, keep an eye on social media and the club website for the match report from the weekend’s game.
Welcome to our visitors, we hope you enjoy your first trip to our Island, and to our home fans and sponsors: thanks for your support!
