Harvey makes changes for Ponty clash, with Brennan and Voss back in contention

Posted on Oct 12, 2012 in Jersey

Tight-head prop Jon Brennan and teenage lock James Voss are in line for their first appearances of the season as Jersey take on Pontypridd tomorrow at St Peter (k-o 3pm).

The Islanders, looking for the first win of the current campaign after a tough start to life in the RFU Championship, are fielding a strong line-up for the British & Irish Cup tie against the visitors from the Rhondda Valley.

Among the replacements are Brennan, Jersey’s longest-serving player, who has spent 10 months on the side-lines after damaging his knee against Coventry in December; and Voss, 18, who made four appearances last season and signed a full-time contract in the summer.

In the starting XV, 37-year-old Player-Coach Ben Evans is rested against his fellow countrymen, with James Gethings wearing the number 3 shirt alongside hooker Dave Felton and loose-head Sean McCarthy. Paul Rodgers makes his first start since returning from injury, and the dislocated shoulder suffered by Talite Vaioleti in training this week sees Dave Markham come into the pack.

Nicky Griffiths and Mike Le Bourgeois remain in the half-back positions, while Ashley Maggs partners Dai Bishop in the centre.

Both Bishop and Griffiths formerly played for the Dragons in Wales, and will be well-known to the visiting fans – who are expected to be present in large numbers – along with ex-Wales and Ospreys full-back Barry Davies.

Jersey’s man-of-the-match in last weekend’s defeat at Nottingham, Ed Dawson, starts on the wing along with Ed Tellwright.

The Jersey bench includes experienced backs James Copsey, Donovan Sanders and Dave McCormack.

Jersey squad, sponsored by Locate Jersey and jersey.com

Barry Davies, Ed Tellwright, Dai Bishop, Ashley Maggs, Ed Dawson, Mike Le Bourgeois, Nicky Griffiths; Sean McCarthy, Dave Felton, James Gethings, Nathan Hannay (Capt), Paul Rodgers, Dave Markham, Kingsley Lang, Guy Thompson.

Replacements: Richard Barrington, Jon Brennan, Rob Anderson, James Voss, Dave McCormack, Donovan Sanders, James Copsey.

Jersey forced into late bench change ahead of Blues encounter

Posted on Sep 29, 2012 in Jersey

Jersey Director of Rugby Ben Harvey has been forced to make a late change to his squad ahead of the encounter with Bedford Blues at St Peter today (k-o 3pm).

With Ashley Maggs failing to recover from a knock received in last weekend’s game against Rotherham, Glenn Bryce comes into the squad and takes Maggs’ place on the bench.

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Harvey makes changes as Championship prepares for ‘Solitary Saturday’

Posted on Sep 28, 2012 in Jersey

Championship rugby supporters will thank Crunchie for Jersey v Bedford when the two sides square off on Saturday at 3pm, following a glut of Friday night action involving their rivals.

Ben Harvey has announced his Jersey squad for the game. Perhaps the biggest surprises see two lynchpins of last season’s side, Donovan Sanders and Guy Thompson, relegated to the bench.

Sanders is replaced by Mike Le Bourgeois at centre, with Ross Broadfoot returning to the fly-half position. Ed Dawson starts on the wing in place of Glenn Bryce.

In the forwards, seven of the starting pack against Rotherham last weekend will appear again, with Thompson’s number 7 shirt going to Kingsley Lang, an impactful substitute at Clifton Lane.

Jersey’s bench includes two players back from injury: scrum-half Nicky Griffiths after a quicker-than-expected recovery from the blow he sustained against Moseley two weeks ago, and former captain Paul Rodgers (pictured) – the Kiwi lock/ back row man has been out for almost a year with a knee ligament injury.

“Bedford have made a great start to the season, and everyone knows there’s a big gap between the clubs in terms of current league position and Championship experience,” states Harvey. “But I know that if my team can cut down on the errors, and deliver an 80-minute performance which reflects their potential, that we can be a match for anyone.”

Jersey squad

1 Richard Barrington
2 Steve Boden
3 Ben Evans
4 Nathan Hannay (capt)
5 Rob Anderson
6 Talite Vaoileti
7 Kingsley Lang
8 Fred Silcock
9 Dave McCormack
10 Ross Broadfoot
11 Ed Dawson
12 Dai Bishop
13 Mike Le Bourgeois
14 Ed Tellwright
15 Barry Davies
Replacements
James Gethings
Sean McCarthy
Paul Rodgers
Guy Thompson
Nicky Griffiths
Donovan Sanders
Ashley Maggs

New signings boost Jersey ahead of clash with Moseley

Posted on Sep 14, 2012 in Jersey

Jersey have confirmed the signings of Barry Davies and Ed Tellwright, boosting the Islanders’ squad in the club’s first season in the RFU Championship.

The pair signed on Thursday ahead of Jersey’s clash with Moseley at St Peter this Saturday (k-o 3pm).

Full-back Davies, 31, played for Llanelli, Brive and most recently the Ospreys as well as winning a Welsh cap in the RBS 6 Nations game against Ireland in 2006. He won three Celtic League titles during his time in Wales and played 11 times for the Ospreys in 2011/12, scoring two tries.

Tellwright is a 23-year-old winger who played for Rotherham Titans in the Championship last season, making 13 appearances and scoring two tries, including one against Moseley. He has also played for England Students and won the Middlesex Sevens with the Samurai invitational side in 2010.

Jersey Director of Rugby Ben Harvey admitted he had been looking to strengthen his squad and was delighted to have captured two players of genuine talent.

“I have been looking to bring greater strength to the squad – the Championship is a physical league and in addition we lost Richard Haughton to Perpignan,” he said. “Barry is a proven talent whose experience in Wales and France will be invaluable to our young squad.

“Ed has genuine pace and real potential to take his career on to the next level, and he will be an important asset to Jersey rugby as we become established in the Championship.”

Tellwright comes straight into a Jersey starting XV showing three changes from the trip to Headingley in round two. The new boy slots in on the wing, with Mike Le Bourgeois switching to centre in place of the injured Tom Cooper.

In the pack, Sean McCarthy earns a start at loose-head in place of Richard Barrington after impressing as a replacement in the opening games, while Kingsley Lang gets the nod at blind-side ahead of Talite Vaoileti.

Both sides will be keen to register their first win after suffering consecutive defeats at the start of the 2012/13 campaign. Ticket details and a full preview of the game can be found at www.jrfc.je

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