Jersey have been placed in National Three after an RFU reshuffle

Jersey Rugby Club began the season in National League three with a 24-19 away loss to Bracknell.

Playing the better rugby, Jersey led 16-9 at half-time but Bracknell came out and scored quickly in the second half and ground out a win.

Jersey coach Ben Harvey saw positives in Jersey's play, but admitted it was not enough to win.

"In terms of style, I think we totally outplayed them and I think they'd admit that," he told BBC Radio Jersey.

"But it's not about that, it's about winning games. It was a lesson in grinding out a victory, they've been use to doing it over the years they knew how to win.

You don't get promoted or relegated in the first game of the season, and it was a huge learning curve and probably one that we needed... We have to realise how tough this league is. Jersey coach Ben Harvey

"We scored 16 good points in the first half, with tries to Ed Dawson and Charlie Clyde Smith, it should have been more."

"We played a little bit in the wrong area of the park trying to run the ball in our own half and that put us under a lot of pressure and gave them silly penalties."

After the RFU summer re-organisation of the divisions placed Jersey in the National League, Harvey knows it is going to be a long season.

"You don't get promoted or relegated in the first game of the season, and it was a huge learning curve and probably one that we needed."

"We have to realise how tough this league is."

"By no means [was the result] doom and gloom but certainly something we were very disappointed with and I know the boys are extremely disappointed."

Jersey's next match is against Norfolk side North Walsham who beat Sutton & Epsom 22-15.

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