Jersey RFC 28Tries: Spencer (2), Armstrong, WillmottConversions: Penberthy (4) Tunbridge Wells 24Tries: Purnell, Chapman, Bench, GoodgerConversions: Greig (2) HT: 14-5JEP Player of the Match: Aaron Penberthy JERSEY RFC Men concluded their outstanding Regional 1 South Central 2024/25 campaign with a hard-fought home victory over relegation-scrapping Tunbridge Wells. Aaron Penberthy, playing on the wing on this occasion rather than his usual slot at number 10, was named player of the match for his incredible energy and crucial 100% success rate with the boot. “This was a similar sort of game to the Old Alleynians result last week,” said head coach Myles Landick. “We have been seeking this perfect performance for a while, but we’ve just not been able to string everything together quite yet. “We knew this would be a tough scrap and Tunbridge really took the game to us. They had a big physical side and we were made to work for it.” Opponents Tunbridge Wells ran out at CoinShares Park on Saturday knowing they had to at least secure losing-bonus points if they were to have any chance of avoiding being caught by Brighton or Horsham below them. Although the result of this game would not effect Jersey’s league standing, with second placed already claimed, the fight brought by Tunbridge was no doubt a positive test in Landick’s eyes. Hooker Jack Macfarlane echoed those thoughts post-match, saying: “We still had an awful lot to play for in this game. “We were not perfect again, but this is exactly the sort of game we needed at this stage of our season. The last thing we would have wanted was a deadrubber against a team who had nothing to play for. “We know the Siam Cup is on the horizon for us and we want to use every opportunity possible to test ourselves as a unit and make sure we are implementing the things we are working on in training into match scenarios. “The level of physicality and fight shown today was immense and I thought we handled it really well. “We had a couple of moments of ill-discipline, but I thought overall it was a solid defensive performance.” The match started in an unfortunate manner, with a Tunbridge winger being sent to hospital just minutes into the game after suffering a nasty injury following a heavy tackle. Our thoughts are with the young man and we wish him a speedy recovery. However, it was the visitors who opened the scoring after 17 minutes, with their leading try scorer of the season, Alex Purnell, powering his way through. In windy conditions, Jack Greig would miss the apparently straightforward conversion, something that would come back to haunt his side. The poor start continued, as numerous penalties finally boiled over for the hosts and George Willmott received a yellow card. Ill-discipline continued for both, with Tunbridge’s Harrison Chapman receiving a yellow himself five minutes later. With a level playing field, Landick’s men seized their opportunity and, as they have done all season, used their maul to excellent effect as Euan Spencer blasted his way over, duly converted by the poetic boot of Penberthy, showing his opposite number how it was done. As half-time closed in, Jersey would take a big leap into the break by doubling their advantage, as Spencer scored his second with almost a carbon copy of the first, once again converted for a 14-5 advantage to the hosts going into the interval. Macfarlane continued: “We did show bursts of what we’re about offensively, that really shone through to score twice just before half-time. We need to ensure, moving forward, that when we have those periods of dominance, especially offensively, that we really cash in and put games to bed.” As the second half began, it was clear Tunbridge were aware of what they were playing for. The visitors returned with renewed vigour, knowing they were playing for their place in the league next season and it was clear to see. After an attritional first 15 minutes, Tunbridge grabbed one back through previously sin-binned Chapman, with the conversion successful this time to bring the score back to 14-12. However, just as Macfarlane noted, Jersey hit one of their hot streaks again and looked to ruthlessly remove the game from their opponents’ clutches. Just two minutes later, the magnificent Penberthy produced a moment of magic, stepping his man then off-loading a wonderful backhand pass on contact to Lance Armstrong, who strode home to touch down a superb score for the hosts, which Penberthy then converted with aplomb. At 21-12, the home side did not take their foot off the gas, extending that lead even further in the 61st minute when the powerful Willmott also bullied his way through off the back of a brilliant line-breaking burst from Billy Mullins. A fourth successive conversion built the hosts’ lead to 28-12 with less than 20 minutes to play. But the Caesareans have found ways of keeping games entertaining late on recently and history looked to be repeating itself, as the visitors scored not once but twice in the dying embers of the game. As the full-time whistle came and the men in red breathed a sigh of relief at the 28-24 final score, massive credit must go to the Tunbridge Wells unit for their desire at the end.If not for a monumental defensive effort from the Islanders in the final moments, Tunbridge might even have stolen the victory, but their four tries were enough to secure two bonus points, which just about proved enough as they finished out of the relegation zone and saved their season by just one point. A pensive Landick continued: “We can’t kid ourselves, we’ve won 19 out of 22 games this season, it’s been a massive success. “Any other year, that would have been enough for us to win most leagues and achieve promotion. This year it wasn’t to be. “But there are still so many positives we can take away from the campaign as a whole. “We were beaten to promotion by a fantastic side in London Welsh and fair play to them, they absolutely deserved it. “But we can take away the confidence knowing we took a win off them, their only defeat of the season. With everything we still have to play for this season with the Siam and Fallaize Cups, I think we’re looking in a strong position. “It goes without saying that we desperately want to win both of them, especially with it being at home this year. “With the Women’s game too, they will also be wanting their own revenge for last year, so we’re all extremely excited for it now. “It’s going to be an amazing event for Jersey Rugby to host. We know we are in a good position as a team and we have a good few weeks now to prepare as best we can to ensure we are in the best position possible come 3 May to get our hands back on that trophy.” From our perspective here at the JEP, a massive congratulations must go to Myles and his team for their efforts. To win 19 out of 22 games, reach 99 points and not win the league is pretty remarkable.This would have been the side’s third successive promotion, but knowing they still managed to beat the best team in the league and put the only blemish on their record must give the group some satisfaction. It’s been a great journey following their progress this campaign and we here also cannot wait for what the Siam Cup will bring us in a month’s time. Rest assured we will be pulling out all the stops to bring you the best coverage we can.