Jersey keep promotion hopes alive

Kiwi centre Sam Tuia scored twice for Jersey at Shelford

Jersey rugby club kept their chances of promotion from London League One alive after a tough 15-14 win at top-of-the-table Shelford.

One point has been the difference between the two sides over their two matches this season, after they drew six points apiece back in November.

The Island-side have stayed third in the table on 24 points, three behind both Shelford and Barnes.

Jersey's next league game is at home to Barnes on Saturday 21 February.

Jersey head coach Ben Harvey said he was was pleased with a win.

"The attack in the first half was absolutely fantastic and the defence in the second was excellent, so to get the win on the road against the league leaders was phenomenal," he told BBC Radio Jersey.

Jersey had a superb first half with centre Sam Tuia scoring after 20 minutes.

Michael Le Bourgeois converted it and then five minutes later he added a penalty as his team took a 10-0 lead.

A big crowd makes a huge difference and it's a very difficult place for teams to come and win

Ben Harvey

Shelford bounced back five minutes before the half with a converted try, however Tuia scored again with an unconverted try just before the half-time whistle and Jersey went into the break leading 15 -7.

After the interval, Shelford shut Jersey down and they scored a converted try after an hour's play but Jersey held on for the final twenty minutes for a vital 15-14 win.

With Barnes recording a strong 50-8 win over Sutton & Epson and Harvey has called for the Jersey fans to get behind their team next weekend.

"A big crowd makes a huge difference and it's a very difficult place for teams to come and win, we want to keep St Peter as a fortress."

A crowd of close to 1,000 is expected on Saturday.