Rugby: Good Friday for Jersey as Reds reach cup semis

Friday 30 March 2018

Jersey Reds reached the last four of the British and Irish Cup for the third year in a row, after a clinical 22-10 win over Doncaster Knights in the quarter-final at Stade Santander International.

In front of a Good Friday crowd of more than 1,600 supporters, tries from Kieran Hardy (2), Tom Pincus and top try-scorer Nick Selway helped the hosts through to the semis again.

“Doncaster are a good side and we knew that coming into this game,” said Selway, who was making his 100th appearance for the club.

”Every time we play Donny it’s tight and today was no exception - it was one of those crackers again. We’re just happy we got the win and we’re into the next round."

Video: “It gives the island something to really get behind” - Jersey assistant coach Neil Tunnah reflects on B&I Cup quarter-final win.

After a keenly-contested but less than inspiring first 25 minutes in miserable conditions, scrum-half Hardy found a gap in the Knights defence and burst through to open the scoring.

Winger Tom Pincus got Jersey’s second try with the final play of the first half, touching down in the corner from Brendan Cope’s cross-field kick to give the hosts a 12-0 lead at half time.

Dougie Flockhart’s long-range penalty got the visitors on the board but the Reds were soon back on the front foot, with man-of-the-match Hardy sprinting in for his second from a well-worked line-out. 

FULL TIME | @jerseyrfc 22-10 Knights | Tough visit to the Island, credit to Jersey who had a couple of clever tries & solid defence throughout. Best of luck in the semis! Knights back in action at @CastleParkDRFC next Saturday vs @ealingtfrugby.

— Doncaster Knights (@DoncasterKnight) March 30, 2018

Selway powered over from a maul to celebrate his 16th try of the campaign and put the result beyond any real doubt, with Ben Hunter’s late score from close-range no more than a consolation for Doncaster. 

“It was a very good performance, it was quite attritional at times and I’m proud of the way the boys played,” Jersey assistant coach Neil Tunnah told Express.

“If you get to the knock-out stages of any competition it becomes really difficult. At the business end of the season we want to be playing for silverware, it’s our opportunity to do that in the B&I Cup and it gives the island something to really get behind.”

Pictured: Kieran Hardy, who scored two of Jersey's four tries.

The Reds have excelled in the cup in recent years, making it all the way to the final last season only to lose by a single point to Munster A. Jersey will now host Irish side Leinster A in next month’s semi-final.