Guernsey U16 Boys v Jersey U16 Boys

Jersey U16s travelled to Guernsey for their annual Junior Siam having not played any competitive rugby since March 7th. This fixture was also doubling up as their Sussex League encounter due to Guernsey not being able to travel to Jersey earlier in the season.
Preparation had not been ideal with limited commitment to training due to no prospects of real match play and the commencement of GCSE exams.
The game kicked off in light rain and Jersey took it to the hosts from the whistle with some very powerful forward carries. 9 minutes in and Guernsey, not yet entering the Jersey half, conceded a penalty for slowing the ball in the ruck, which Ryan Allen-Le Bas converted from just left of the posts 35 mtrs out, 0-3.
A knock-on from the restart saw Guernsey take the initiative from the scrum and following a couple of quick rucks drew Jersey offside just outside the 22 in front of the posts, 3 - 3.
As the rain got heavier, so did the match which was turning into a real tense, physical confrontation – no quarter asked or given. Both teams' enthusiasm for the battle spilling over into an all in face off on 18 mins resulting in a yellow card for each side. Guernsey came close a couple of times with some neat offload based attacks which Jersey were able to repel with a strong scrambling defense. The temperature of play, certainly hotter than the weather continued for the rest of the half with neither team able to gain an advantage.
The second half got underway in near monsoon conditions, both sides doing their best to play and entertain the crowd. 7 minutes in and Jacob Watson was able to pick up from the base of a breakdown on Guernsey's 10 mtr line and drive deep into their 22, quick ruck ball and 2 crisp passes along the line from Callum Coombs and Eoin Mann saw Lennon Cummins go over the whitewash wide right. 3 - 8.
Guernsey rallied and a strong foray down the right hand side led to a series of forward drives and offloads taking them across the pitch and towards Jersey's line to go over just inside the 5 mtr line out left. 8 - 8, 20 mins to go.
The contest never let up in intensity with both sides trying to play solid rugby in atrocious conditions. Frustrations were creeping into the game with no side able to assert themselves. Guernsey cracked first, unable to hold his discipline no 11 received a yellow card for a high, no arms tackle trying to pressure Jersey 10, Allen-Le Bas who was obviously rocked by the challenge and went down. With their regular kicker receiving treatment, up stepped full back, Archie Donnelly, who, cool as you like, slotted the kick from fully 40 mtrs out in front. 8 - 11, 5 mins to play.
Plenty of time left for Guernsey to come back, and they did. Their forward carries and offload game was unrelenting. However, Jersey's defense was solid and held firm to close out the game taking not only Siam honours, but also Sussex League points to ensure finishing higher than Guernsey in that table also. This team now exit single age grade rugby and step up into Colts combined U17s & 18s knowing that they have gone undefeated at Junior Siam from U7s to U16s, a great achievement.

Thanks to our Sponsors
First and foremost we would like to thank our dedicated Junior Siam Sponsor, Pentera Trust. Their support was crucial in enabling us to get so many players across to Guernsey for the Junior Siam Festival and we are very grateful! 

Thanks also to Santander International, Jersey Sport for travel grant funding this season and Oakbridge for our travel kit. 

• Archie Donnelly

• Lennon Cummins

• Oliver Ramage

• Owen Carter

• George Powell

• Ryan Allen-Le Bas

• Callum Coombs

• Aphonso Correia

• Max Le Vesconte

• Carter Ferey

• James Wiseman

• Kobi Millington

• Eoin Mann (c)

• Jacob Watson

• Seb Tanner

• Oliver Matete

• Robbie Milner

• Humphrey McGinnety

• Conor Brennan

• Alex Hazzard

• Ianto Davies

• Louis Shatford

Coaches:

Dave Clark, Paul Griffin, Stewart Coombs

Managers:

Jo Shipton-Taylor