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For the second week in a row Jersey Reds succumbed to an injury time try to lose, yet again clutching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Ahead for the whole of the second half, Harvey Biljon's side were in total control in the dying stages, only to fall foul of another injury time sickener - with Nottingham snatching the win by 21-22.
Jersey came into the match as strong favourites having won two of their previous three matches this season, but last weekend's injury time loss at Ealing meant they started the match fourth in the Greene King IPA Championship.
The green and whites made an enterprising start and were ahead with a superbly worked try after 12 minutes as Billy Robinson finished off a fine move. Jersey hit back with a forward pushover try of their own through scrum-half Sami Fisilau and then went ahead just before half-time 14-10 courtesy of another muscular front row manoeuvre.
Straight after the break the visitors responded with a try of their own, but Jersey quickly got the upper hand and their third try moved the score to 21-15. At this stage the Reds had the chance to kick for a further three points, but instead elected to go for the try. It was a poor tactical decision as a knock-on meant they did not take advantage and the visitors smelt blood as the clock ticked down.
A brilliant kick by fly-half Laurence Rayner gave Nottingham the opportunity for a forward move and deep into injury time they got the five points. Stand-off Rayner secured the conversion as a bewildered Jersey Reds side could barely believe they had lost by a single point.
It was a repeat of last weekend's loss at Ealing and meant Jersey have been pegged back this season following their opening two wins. The loss in west London was understandable, but this defeat was a real blow to Jersey's aims for reaching a play-off place this season.
Coach Biljon was understandably angered by the result, if not the performance. "That is the second week in a row we have shot ourselves in the foot and given away a winning lead within sight of the finishing line. It's not good enough. We have to learn to close out a game for 80 minutes, not 79 and a half.
"It was really disappointing after what happened at Ealing, where we were also within sight of the final whistle. We defended really well, but you can only rely on your defence for so long. In the end even the best defence cannot keep putting itself under pressure the way we did. We gave away too many penalties and you cannot do that at Championship level."
Jersey Reds: Cuthbert; Adair, King (Robling 54), Davies, Lane; Katz, Fisilau; Thomas (Woolmore 65), Selway (Buckle 49), Kerrod (Armstrong 49), Campbell, McKern (Kolo'ofa'i 54), Argyle, Freeman (capt), Haining (Doyle 60-70)
Replacement (not used): Hardy.
Nottingham: Robinson; Yawayawa, Evans, Hakalo, Hall (YC 22); Rayner, Veenendaal; West (Morley 35), Stevens (Harris 57), Parkins (Heard 49), Morris (capt), Green (Everard 67), Langley, Coghlan, Poullet.
Replacements (not used): McConnell, Millett
REFEREE: Ian Tempest. Assistants: Darryl Chapman, Simon Adams
ATTENDANCE: 1,723
Half Time: 14-10
Scorers
Jersey Reds
Tries: Fisilau 23, Selway 32, 49
Conversions: Katz 23, 32, 49
Nottingham
Tries: Robinson 12, Stevens 46, Heard 80
Conversions: Rayner 12, 80
Penalty: Rayner 29
DSCF1874 from Bailiwick Express on Vimeo.
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