Jersey 26 Tynedale 8 SSE National League One By Tom Innes
Clinging to a 7-3 lead with just 10 minutes remaining, Jersey surged to a comfortable victory and a bonus point with the last move of the game.
The result was a harsh reflection on the visiting team who edged the balance of play in the first half and maintained a dogged defensive effort until the closing stages.
"To say I'm a disappointed is an understatement," said Tynedale Coach Tom Borthwick. "We had some decent field position in the first half but we didn't look after the ball.
"It was disappointing to lose some key players early in the game, but it's a squad game and you just have to get on with it. We kept in touch on the scoreboard, then had a silly two minutes at the end."
Unsurprisingly Jersey Head Coach Ben Harvey was delighted that his team, while failing to hit the heights achieved in the thrilling away win at Cambridge, had maintained their focus to the end.
"To get five points when you've not played to your full potential is pleasing," he said. "Tynedale were very dogged, causing us lots of problems, and having been terrific last week our accuracy was missing for a lot of the match."
The match started with neither team looking liable to trouble the scoreboard operator. Some isolated bursts of running by James Copsey and Dai Bishop for Jersey and Tyne's Hamish Smales were among the few times attack got the better of defence. The officials were kept on their toes with some sporadic outbreaks of 'handbags' by both packs.
Jersey lost prop Jon Brennan to injury within quarter of an hour and visiting lock Richard Boyle was also forced off midway through the first half. Boyle's departure coincided with Jersey's best spell of pressure, which culminated in Mike Le Bourgeois twisting and jinking his way over, and adding a straightforward conversion.
With just the single score separating the sides into the second half, Le Bourgeois missed a penalty attempt, his second of the match, after 42 minutes. The next time he was within range, Jersey opted to kick to the corner but failed to turn the attack into points.
William Massey's penalty gave hope to the visitors, but Jersey's next kick to the corner was more productive: slick ball from the top of the lineout by Jim Brownrigg, the ball fed quickly into midfield and Guy Thompson's powerful run just getting him to the line.
The yellow-carding of Tyne's replacement lock Myles Scott for preventing quick ball set up yet another attacking penalty opportunity for the home team, and hooker Charlie Clyde-Smith started and finished a textbook lineout catch-and-drive.
There was still time for the live-wire Smales to burst clear and score to reduce Jersey's lead to 19-8, but with Tyne rushing to restart and sensing a possible bonus point, the home team capitalised with some late pressure. With time up, a penalty was quickly taken by Brownrigg, who fed Ashley Maggs and was on hand to take the return pass and steam over the try-line, sending the majority of a bumper 2,000-plus crowd home happy.
Jersey moved up to fourth in the table following a seventh straight win, while Ealing's loss at home to Macclesfield narrowed the long-time leaders' gap at the top.
Star Man: Dave McCormack (Jersey)
Jersey Tries: Le Bourgeois 29, Thompson 73, Clyde-Smith 78, Brownrigg 80 Conversions: Le Bourgeois 29, 73, 80
Tynedale Try: Smales 79 Penalty: Massey 66
HT: 7-0 Attendance: 2,149
Jersey: Copsey, Maggs, Bishop, Sanders, Dawson, Le Bourgeois, McCormack, Landick, Clyde-Smith, Brennan, Lang, Brownrigg, Bell (capt), Thompson, Trower. Replacements: O'Brien S, O'Brien B, Evans, Corson, Turner Tynedale: Harris, Cole, Harrison J (capt), Smales, Rogers, Massey, Shaw, Irving, Beasley, Shires, Dunn, Boyle, Dickinson, Ridley, Harrison A. Replacements: Westgarth, Frazier, Scott, Cousin, Beck.
Referee: Philip Davies
Enter your email address below to receive our email newsletter.
The new club shop opening times are: Tuesday and Friday each week from 10am to 1pm, matchday afternoons and, Sunday mornings from 9.30 - 11.30am To have a look at all merchandise available to purchase, please click here.
For all other enquiries, please contact Guy Hinks on 07797 737317.
GO TO THE GALLERY +
Check out the Academy calendar to see what events are coming up.
FIND OUT MORE +
Jersey Rugby ClubFun afternoon coming up this Saturday at JRFC - double bill of live Sevens and big-screen Heineken Cup rugby action - http://t.co/vHLSU5laWed 16 May 12 @ 11:58