The start of the ho-ho-ho season sees the 2023/24 league programme reach the ha-ha-halfway stage in Regional 2 South Central this weekend.
Jersey RFC will kick off December with back-to-back home games, the first of which – against Tottonians this Saturday – is the 11th match of the 22-game schedule in R2SC.
And it’s not just any old home game, this is a first-against-second blockbuster that would grace the M&S festive shop window, as the Island’s finest take on their nearest rivals. Kick-off will be at 2.15pm
Having seen their home game against Farnham fall victim to the weather at the start of November, Tottonians won the rearranged match 45-31 last Saturday to move to 44 points. This puts the Southampton-based side seven clear of third-placed Winchester and just six behind JRFC, who have racked up a maximum 50 points during the league campaign thus far.
Before the game there will be a minute’s silence to acknowledge the recent deaths of two stalwarts of JRFC, Len Galbally and Richard Chadwick
Landick’s Lines
Head Coach Myles Landick was almost as excited as he used to be (or still is?!) when waking up on Christmas morning as he looked forward to Saturday’s game.
“The guys are really looking forward to this one,” he said. “We’ve had a close eye on Tottonians and they look like a pretty strong side.
“Our main focus is on our own game – we have played really well in patches this season, but I’m looking for an 80-minute performance this weekend.
“We’re hoping for a really good crowd and know that if we pick up another win, we can open up a gap at the top of the table, but we also know it won’t be easy against a side who’ll be doing everything to end our winning run.”
Team news
‘Mylo’ has been able to stick to a settled line-up for most of the season, and the starting XV this weekend sees just three new faces, plus a positional switch, from the line-up which won at Newbury two Saturdays ago. George Thomas comes in at prop in place of Ewan Davies, joining Jack Macfarlane and Tom Wilson in the front row; Euan Spencer returns and takes over from Tom Tilstone as Bryn Edwards’ partner in the engine room, while the back-row trio of Evan Whitson, Tim Corson and George Willmott is unchanged. Aaron Penberthy’s return at fly-half means Scott Van Breda will move to centre alongside Dom Mayo. Nathan Rogers moves to wing, taking over from Anushan Elanco, while the remaining starters are Sam Harvey on the opposite flank, Charlie Hubert at full-back and Max Harrington at 9. The bench includes a place, and probable debut, for former Jersey Reds captain Lewis Wynne, who joins Joe Ridgway and Jenson Holmes. Landick said: “Lewis has really signed up to what we are about – he’s been to pretty much every training session since the news about the Reds at the end of September, and earned the right to be selected. “Our back row has been settled, with no reason to change a successful formula, but Lewis will be lining up to make an impact when he comes on.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Charlie Hubert; Sam Harvey, Dom Mayo, Scott Van Breda, Nathan Rogers; Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Euan Spencer, Bryn Edwards, Evan Whitson (capt), Tim Corson, George Willmott. Replacements: Joe Ridgway, Lewis Wynne, Jenson Holmes.
Back in the day
The two clubs will be renewing a long-standing rivalry after a gap of almost 19 years. On December 18th 2004 JRFC completed a double over Tottonians in London 3SW thanks to a 46-10 win at Water Lane, with Gareth Jeffreys scoring four of the seven Jersey tries (Andy Whelan, Josh Chamier and Steve O’Brien claimed the others, and Mark White kicked 11 points). Four weeks earlier the match at St Peter finished 27-6, thanks to a hat-trick by Richard Finch, with Dan McAlister (now JRFC Chairman) and O’Brien also crossing for tries. At the end of the 2004/05 the Island side were promoted having spent 10 seasons in L3SW and won all 20 of their league games, while Tottonians finished fifth in the 12-team league. The previous season had seen a Tottonians double, with the Hampshire side winning 21-15 on the Island and 18-0 on home turf. The result at St Peter, sealed by a late Joe Jarvis try, caused disappointment for JRFC Head Coach Dai Burton, who told the JEP that if he’d been a paying spectator he would have demanded his money back. Burton’s side finished third that season, with Tottonians seventh. In 1999/2000 the sides met once in L3SW, which was contested by 17 clubs on a home or away basis up until that season, with a 34-7 win for Jersey at Water Lane. The Island side finished second that season, the mainlanders 12th.
Winners (thus far!) head to East Grinners
Our women’s XV will be seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they travel to East Grinstead on Sunday. Currently four-from-four and lying second to Beckenham II in the National Championship 2 South-East (South), the girls enjoyed a thumping 65-5 home win over Crawley last time out and will be playing their final match before a mid-season/Christmas break. The next chance to see JRFC Women in action on home turf will be on Saturday January 6th when we’ll have a double-header, as the boys take on Farnham on the same day.
K-O this Sunday is at 12.30pm – good luck ladies!
Parish Notices
Although it’s beginning to feel a bit like Christmas at JRFC, the big festive occasion will be on Saturday December 9th when we will play host to Reading RFC. Think Christmas jumpers, mulled wine and a chance for the littles ones to visit Santa in his grotto. Lunches for the two games this month are sold out, however the (pavilion) tap room will be open, as well as the Bonus Pint bar at the Jersey Bowl end of the bar.
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 match reports from this weekend’s games.
Thanks for your support!
Tom Innes
Jersey RFC will kick off December with back-to-back home games, the first of which – against Tottonians this Saturday – is the 11th match of the 22-game schedule in R2SC.
And it’s not just any old home game, this is a first-against-second blockbuster that would grace the M&S festive shop window, as the Island’s finest take on their nearest rivals. Kick-off will be at 2.15pm
Having seen their home game against Farnham fall victim to the weather at the start of November, Tottonians won the rearranged match 45-31 last Saturday to move to 44 points. This puts the Southampton-based side seven clear of third-placed Winchester and just six behind JRFC, who have racked up a maximum 50 points during the league campaign thus far.
Before the game there will be a minute’s silence to acknowledge the recent deaths of two stalwarts of JRFC, Len Galbally and Richard Chadwick
Landick’s Lines
Head Coach Myles Landick was almost as excited as he used to be (or still is?!) when waking up on Christmas morning as he looked forward to Saturday’s game.
“The guys are really looking forward to this one,” he said. “We’ve had a close eye on Tottonians and they look like a pretty strong side.
“Our main focus is on our own game – we have played really well in patches this season, but I’m looking for an 80-minute performance this weekend.
“We’re hoping for a really good crowd and know that if we pick up another win, we can open up a gap at the top of the table, but we also know it won’t be easy against a side who’ll be doing everything to end our winning run.”
Team news
‘Mylo’ has been able to stick to a settled line-up for most of the season, and the starting XV this weekend sees just three new faces, plus a positional switch, from the line-up which won at Newbury two Saturdays ago. George Thomas comes in at prop in place of Ewan Davies, joining Jack Macfarlane and Tom Wilson in the front row; Euan Spencer returns and takes over from Tom Tilstone as Bryn Edwards’ partner in the engine room, while the back-row trio of Evan Whitson, Tim Corson and George Willmott is unchanged. Aaron Penberthy’s return at fly-half means Scott Van Breda will move to centre alongside Dom Mayo. Nathan Rogers moves to wing, taking over from Anushan Elanco, while the remaining starters are Sam Harvey on the opposite flank, Charlie Hubert at full-back and Max Harrington at 9. The bench includes a place, and probable debut, for former Jersey Reds captain Lewis Wynne, who joins Joe Ridgway and Jenson Holmes. Landick said: “Lewis has really signed up to what we are about – he’s been to pretty much every training session since the news about the Reds at the end of September, and earned the right to be selected. “Our back row has been settled, with no reason to change a successful formula, but Lewis will be lining up to make an impact when he comes on.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Charlie Hubert; Sam Harvey, Dom Mayo, Scott Van Breda, Nathan Rogers; Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Euan Spencer, Bryn Edwards, Evan Whitson (capt), Tim Corson, George Willmott. Replacements: Joe Ridgway, Lewis Wynne, Jenson Holmes.
Back in the day
The two clubs will be renewing a long-standing rivalry after a gap of almost 19 years. On December 18th 2004 JRFC completed a double over Tottonians in London 3SW thanks to a 46-10 win at Water Lane, with Gareth Jeffreys scoring four of the seven Jersey tries (Andy Whelan, Josh Chamier and Steve O’Brien claimed the others, and Mark White kicked 11 points). Four weeks earlier the match at St Peter finished 27-6, thanks to a hat-trick by Richard Finch, with Dan McAlister (now JRFC Chairman) and O’Brien also crossing for tries. At the end of the 2004/05 the Island side were promoted having spent 10 seasons in L3SW and won all 20 of their league games, while Tottonians finished fifth in the 12-team league. The previous season had seen a Tottonians double, with the Hampshire side winning 21-15 on the Island and 18-0 on home turf. The result at St Peter, sealed by a late Joe Jarvis try, caused disappointment for JRFC Head Coach Dai Burton, who told the JEP that if he’d been a paying spectator he would have demanded his money back. Burton’s side finished third that season, with Tottonians seventh. In 1999/2000 the sides met once in L3SW, which was contested by 17 clubs on a home or away basis up until that season, with a 34-7 win for Jersey at Water Lane. The Island side finished second that season, the mainlanders 12th.
Winners (thus far!) head to East Grinners
Our women’s XV will be seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they travel to East Grinstead on Sunday. Currently four-from-four and lying second to Beckenham II in the National Championship 2 South-East (South), the girls enjoyed a thumping 65-5 home win over Crawley last time out and will be playing their final match before a mid-season/Christmas break. The next chance to see JRFC Women in action on home turf will be on Saturday January 6th when we’ll have a double-header, as the boys take on Farnham on the same day.
K-O this Sunday is at 12.30pm – good luck ladies!
Parish Notices
Although it’s beginning to feel a bit like Christmas at JRFC, the big festive occasion will be on Saturday December 9th when we will play host to Reading RFC. Think Christmas jumpers, mulled wine and a chance for the littles ones to visit Santa in his grotto. Lunches for the two games this month are sold out, however the (pavilion) tap room will be open, as well as the Bonus Pint bar at the Jersey Bowl end of the bar.
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 match reports from this weekend’s games.
Thanks for your support!
Tom Innes
