Post by Jamie Crawford on Dec 29, 2015 11:37:15 GMT
Last Saturday saw the Knights extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to ten games so we’ll be riding the crest of a wave, brimming with confidence. In their turn Jersey will see the Knights as a scalp worth taking and they are exceptionally good at St Peters, with great home support. They will take comfort and confidence knowing that they drew with the Knights last time we went to St Peters on 14th November.
The Knights are still SECOND in the Championship and only bonus points separate Nottingham, Jersey and Rotherham Titans in fifth, sixth and seventh. All three have won and lost six of their twelve games played. Jersey are the only one of the three with a positive points difference courtesy of having the strongest defence in the Championship.
Top-placed Bristol have conceded 254 points, the Knights 250 points but Jersey have only conceded 231 points. The big difference is in points scored; Bristol have scored 408 points, the Knights 330 points and Jersey have scored 263 points. Therefore over the twelve matches played Jersey have had an average points difference of 2.67 points per game compared to the Knights’ 6.67 points. An average of four points scored per game separates the Knights from Jersey. Solely in terms of points scored:conceded, Jersey should be fourth as their points difference is better than Bedford Blues’ and every team apart from Jersey below fifth have a negative points difference.
Statbunker aren’t up to date with the results. They have some results from 26th/27th December but not all so I won’t include any stats. All teams have played twelve games but Statbunker has four teams as only playing 11 (including us). That said Fly Half Brendan Cope is Jersey’s top points-scorer. Wing Tom Howe followed by Back Row Nick Haining then Second Row/Back Row Gary Graham are their top try-scorers.
Sam Lockwood (Prop, Jersey RFC) was chosen as No.1 in the Full official GKIPA Championship Dream Team
Lockwood is described as an aggressive defender and destructive ball-carrier whose scrummaging has come on leaps and bounds in this his first full season in the Channel Islands. Played 20 games and scored four tries after an early season injury setback (last season).
Elsewhere the first games of 2016:
Friday 1st January
Bedford Blues (4) welcome London Scottish (8) to Goldington Road
Saturday 2nd January
Moseley (12) travel to Old Deer Park to play London Welsh (10)
Our neighbours, Rotherham Titans (7) host the Pirates from Penzance (9)
Our last opponents Nottingham (5) welcome top-placed Bristol to lady bay
Ealing Trailfinders (11) will hope to upset the form book again when they host Carnegie (3)
We are five points below top-placed Bristol and four points above third-placed Carnegie.
The good news is, as John Bale mentioned; the gap to 5th for us is now a welcome 12pts.
Which team will start the year as they mean to on, the in-form Knights or the emerging Jersey eager to take an in-form scalp?
The Knights are still SECOND in the Championship and only bonus points separate Nottingham, Jersey and Rotherham Titans in fifth, sixth and seventh. All three have won and lost six of their twelve games played. Jersey are the only one of the three with a positive points difference courtesy of having the strongest defence in the Championship.
Top-placed Bristol have conceded 254 points, the Knights 250 points but Jersey have only conceded 231 points. The big difference is in points scored; Bristol have scored 408 points, the Knights 330 points and Jersey have scored 263 points. Therefore over the twelve matches played Jersey have had an average points difference of 2.67 points per game compared to the Knights’ 6.67 points. An average of four points scored per game separates the Knights from Jersey. Solely in terms of points scored:conceded, Jersey should be fourth as their points difference is better than Bedford Blues’ and every team apart from Jersey below fifth have a negative points difference.
Statbunker aren’t up to date with the results. They have some results from 26th/27th December but not all so I won’t include any stats. All teams have played twelve games but Statbunker has four teams as only playing 11 (including us). That said Fly Half Brendan Cope is Jersey’s top points-scorer. Wing Tom Howe followed by Back Row Nick Haining then Second Row/Back Row Gary Graham are their top try-scorers.
Sam Lockwood (Prop, Jersey RFC) was chosen as No.1 in the Full official GKIPA Championship Dream Team
Lockwood is described as an aggressive defender and destructive ball-carrier whose scrummaging has come on leaps and bounds in this his first full season in the Channel Islands. Played 20 games and scored four tries after an early season injury setback (last season).
Elsewhere the first games of 2016:
Friday 1st January
Bedford Blues (4) welcome London Scottish (8) to Goldington Road
Saturday 2nd January
Moseley (12) travel to Old Deer Park to play London Welsh (10)
Our neighbours, Rotherham Titans (7) host the Pirates from Penzance (9)
Our last opponents Nottingham (5) welcome top-placed Bristol to lady bay
Ealing Trailfinders (11) will hope to upset the form book again when they host Carnegie (3)
We are five points below top-placed Bristol and four points above third-placed Carnegie.
The good news is, as John Bale mentioned; the gap to 5th for us is now a welcome 12pts.
Which team will start the year as they mean to on, the in-form Knights or the emerging Jersey eager to take an in-form scalp?
