JRFC MATCH PREVIEW – SATURDAY DECEMBER 16TH, 2023
In the week that four intrepid lady rowers from Jersey set off on a 3,000-mile race across the Atlantic, the Jersey RFC squad will be looking to summon up the same determination for their last voyage of 2023, a shorter but nevertheless important journey. Lying at the end of the plane journey to Southampton, and a 30-mile coach ride along the M27, is a first-ever league meeting against Wimborne and a chance to take the winning JRFC run into the Christmas and new year break. Both sides will come into the fixture after fine wins in their most recent outings last Saturday. Wimborne travelled to Newbury, a side lying just above them in the table, and registered a 48-22 win, while JRFC managed the same points haul in a 48-7 success over Reading. Talking of exact points tallies, both sides were unbeaten and promoted last season from their respective Counties 1 leagues, each racking up 104 league points in the process.
Landick’s Lines
Without wanting to be too much of a Christmas grinch, Head Coach Myles Landick is looking to put the festivities on hold at least for the first part of Saturday’s trip. “In many respects it’s just another game and I’ve said to the boys that I want to ‘park’ Christmas until the game’s done and dusted,” he said. “No game is a given and we know we’ll have to work hard, especially against a team who are coming off the back of a really impressive win.” In contrast to previous seasons, when availabilities have typically dropped markedly for the final away game before Christmas, Landick said he was pleased there’d been good levels of commitment that have enabled him to select another strong squad. On their return from Saturday’s trip, the squad will have a week-and-a-half’s break prior to their return to training on December 28th, nine days before the resumption of league action at home to Farnham on Saturday January 6th
Team news
Five was the magic number last week in terms of changes to the starting XV from the previous encounter, and the same number of players are juggled this weekend. Behind an unchanged front row, Euan Spencer returns in the second row to join last weeks replacement Nathan Thomas, while there’s another chance for former Jersey Reds skipper Lewis Wynne as he comes in for the unavailable Tim Corson in the back row. At fly-half, James Mitchell will make his second appearance of the season in place of Aaron Penberthy, while the other changes are in the back three: Dylan Stocks at full-back for Charlie Hubert and Anushan Elanco on the wing for Sam Harvey, who switches to the bench alongside Cameron Queree and potential debutant Joe Dagilan. Landick said: “It’s great to see another player who came through our Mini and Junior section getting an opportunity – Joe was a member of the Colts squad last year and has been training with us, so I’m looking forward to seeing him in action. “It’s also pleasing to have Lewis Wynne and James Mitchell coming in, as well as Euan Spencer returning after a knock against Tottonians.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Dylan Stocks; Anushan Elanco, Tom Bulfin, Dom Mayo, Nathan Rogers; James Mitchell, Callum Cuthbert; George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Euan Spencer, Nathan Thomas, Evan Whitson (capt), Lewis Wynne, George Willmott. Replacements: Joe Dagilan, Cameron Queree, Sam Harvey.
Previous encounter
The JRFC side were in great form in their opening home game of the season as Wimborne visited St Peter. A Penberthy drop-goal got the scoreboard ticking, but then the tries started to flow: four before half-time, thanks to a George Willmott brace, Jack Macfarlane and Fergus Ludlam. The scoring pace stepped up after the resumption, with Macfarlane and Willmott crossing again, with the latter completing his hat-trick, and further tries for Eryk Swiech, Tom Wilson and Nathan Rogers, plus an overall tally of 19 points for Penberthy. The visitors battled hard throughout and were rewarded when James Houghton crossed for a try just after the hour, with Ryan Maidment converting. It finished 64-7 to the hosts.
Wimborne RFC
Tracing their roots back to the foundation of East Dorset RFC in the mid 1930s and Old Wimbornians a few years later, the club was officially founded in 1950 and set up home at Leigh Park in 1963. Over the past 25 years the 1st XV have competed in either the sixth or seventh tiers of the pyramid. With the English rugby structure being divided into four regions, Dorset was part of the south-west while neighbouring Hampshire – Jersey’s affiliated county in rugby terms – was classed as London/ south-east. As a result we are fairly sure the two clubs haven’t met prior to this season at 1st XV level, although Wimborne Vets have competed in the ‘Super 10s’ event in Jersey recently. Wimborne’s season so far has seen four wins, away to Newbury and Salisbury, and on home turf against Witney and Farnham, as well as a draw at Chichester.
Parish Notices
The next home action for both JRFC men and women will be the 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 chaps 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 Keep an eye on social media and the club website for the match report from the weekend’s game. And finally, thanks to everyone for their support during 2023 – we hope you have a great Christmas and a very happy new year.
Tom Innes
In the week that four intrepid lady rowers from Jersey set off on a 3,000-mile race across the Atlantic, the Jersey RFC squad will be looking to summon up the same determination for their last voyage of 2023, a shorter but nevertheless important journey. Lying at the end of the plane journey to Southampton, and a 30-mile coach ride along the M27, is a first-ever league meeting against Wimborne and a chance to take the winning JRFC run into the Christmas and new year break. Both sides will come into the fixture after fine wins in their most recent outings last Saturday. Wimborne travelled to Newbury, a side lying just above them in the table, and registered a 48-22 win, while JRFC managed the same points haul in a 48-7 success over Reading. Talking of exact points tallies, both sides were unbeaten and promoted last season from their respective Counties 1 leagues, each racking up 104 league points in the process.
Landick’s Lines
Without wanting to be too much of a Christmas grinch, Head Coach Myles Landick is looking to put the festivities on hold at least for the first part of Saturday’s trip. “In many respects it’s just another game and I’ve said to the boys that I want to ‘park’ Christmas until the game’s done and dusted,” he said. “No game is a given and we know we’ll have to work hard, especially against a team who are coming off the back of a really impressive win.” In contrast to previous seasons, when availabilities have typically dropped markedly for the final away game before Christmas, Landick said he was pleased there’d been good levels of commitment that have enabled him to select another strong squad. On their return from Saturday’s trip, the squad will have a week-and-a-half’s break prior to their return to training on December 28th, nine days before the resumption of league action at home to Farnham on Saturday January 6th
Team news
Five was the magic number last week in terms of changes to the starting XV from the previous encounter, and the same number of players are juggled this weekend. Behind an unchanged front row, Euan Spencer returns in the second row to join last weeks replacement Nathan Thomas, while there’s another chance for former Jersey Reds skipper Lewis Wynne as he comes in for the unavailable Tim Corson in the back row. At fly-half, James Mitchell will make his second appearance of the season in place of Aaron Penberthy, while the other changes are in the back three: Dylan Stocks at full-back for Charlie Hubert and Anushan Elanco on the wing for Sam Harvey, who switches to the bench alongside Cameron Queree and potential debutant Joe Dagilan. Landick said: “It’s great to see another player who came through our Mini and Junior section getting an opportunity – Joe was a member of the Colts squad last year and has been training with us, so I’m looking forward to seeing him in action. “It’s also pleasing to have Lewis Wynne and James Mitchell coming in, as well as Euan Spencer returning after a knock against Tottonians.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Dylan Stocks; Anushan Elanco, Tom Bulfin, Dom Mayo, Nathan Rogers; James Mitchell, Callum Cuthbert; George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Euan Spencer, Nathan Thomas, Evan Whitson (capt), Lewis Wynne, George Willmott. Replacements: Joe Dagilan, Cameron Queree, Sam Harvey.
Previous encounter
The JRFC side were in great form in their opening home game of the season as Wimborne visited St Peter. A Penberthy drop-goal got the scoreboard ticking, but then the tries started to flow: four before half-time, thanks to a George Willmott brace, Jack Macfarlane and Fergus Ludlam. The scoring pace stepped up after the resumption, with Macfarlane and Willmott crossing again, with the latter completing his hat-trick, and further tries for Eryk Swiech, Tom Wilson and Nathan Rogers, plus an overall tally of 19 points for Penberthy. The visitors battled hard throughout and were rewarded when James Houghton crossed for a try just after the hour, with Ryan Maidment converting. It finished 64-7 to the hosts.
Wimborne RFC
Tracing their roots back to the foundation of East Dorset RFC in the mid 1930s and Old Wimbornians a few years later, the club was officially founded in 1950 and set up home at Leigh Park in 1963. Over the past 25 years the 1st XV have competed in either the sixth or seventh tiers of the pyramid. With the English rugby structure being divided into four regions, Dorset was part of the south-west while neighbouring Hampshire – Jersey’s affiliated county in rugby terms – was classed as London/ south-east. As a result we are fairly sure the two clubs haven’t met prior to this season at 1st XV level, although Wimborne Vets have competed in the ‘Super 10s’ event in Jersey recently. Wimborne’s season so far has seen four wins, away to Newbury and Salisbury, and on home turf against Witney and Farnham, as well as a draw at Chichester.
Parish Notices
The next home action for both JRFC men and women will be the 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 chaps 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 Keep an eye on social media and the club website for the match report from the weekend’s game. And finally, thanks to everyone for their support during 2023 – we hope you have a great Christmas and a very happy new year.
Tom Innes
