Post by Jamie Crawford on Nov 29, 2016 16:59:05 GMT
On 27/05/2016 JRFC announced the launch of the Jersey Reds, yes there have been jokes about Jersey Royals as a name instead but they might get a chip on their shoulder about being compared to potatoes! lol
The club's executive committee took the decision to make the switch from simply 'Jersey' to 'Jersey Reds' in order to maximise the appeal to players and supporters alike. New Club Chairman Mark Morgan, who shared the news with club members attending the annual general meeting, said the time was right to make the change.
"Jersey RFC as our members, players and wider support base know it, won't be changing. However this is a move to modernise the club's image," he said. "In Championship terms, we will be taking on a stronger identity as we compete against the likes of Cornish Pirates, Doncaster Knights and Rotherham Titans, but we are an integrated club, and that's why we will be "Jersey Reds" right across the club.
"At present, a lot of the non-playing kit that is worn by players and supporters is predominantly black. That will change and supporters who are cheering on Jersey Reds will be far more visible as well as audible..."
The new Chairman, who was elected at the club's annual general meeting in place of Bill Dempsey, who stepped down after eight years in post, said the move would give the club far greater identity both at home and further afield.
"Previously we have been simply 'Jersey', which means we have the same name as the Island itself and virtually all of the sports teams which represent the Island," he said. "Jersey Reds will be a uniquely rugby-related title and we expect it to become widely-used and popular." (Jersey’s website)
The new Jersey Reds identity has been registered with the Rugby Football Union was unveiled officially on June 1st.
OK last Sunday was another bad day at the office with the Knights losing their unbeaten home record this season. We gave away eighteen points in penalties; the Pirates didn’t give us any. With the score being 26-35, eighteen points fewer for the Pirates would have meant we’d have won 26-17. However all of our Back Row are injured, let’s hope that the injuries heal.
Next we face Jersey Reds from our very fortunate fifth position in the Championship. Fortunate - because we could have slipped much lower but for other favourable results. The Reds are eleventh with three wins and seven losses from their ten games played but at this stage they won’t be worried as Richmond are fifteen points behind and they’ve only scored five points thus far. The Knights have both won and lost five games.
After the ten games played Jersey have scored 220 points and conceded 247 points; the Knights have scored 223 and conceded 214 points. Only three points scored separate the clubs scoring records after ten games.
Jersey will feel very unfortunate because they have scored five losing bonus points from their seven defeats, which means they have finished within seven points of the winning team on most of their losses. Add their five bonus points to the three try-bonus points won and Jersey have scored eight bonus points, only Bedford Blues and London Irish have scored nine. Obviously the Irish exiles’ are all try bonus points.
Fly Halves Brendan Cope followed by Sam Katz by only scored five points fewer are Jersey’s top points scorers. Hooker Nicholas Selway, Wing/Full Back Ross Adair and Wing/Full Back George Watkins are Jersey’s leading try-scorers.
The Reds have scored 28 tries in this campaign compared to the Knights’ 31, so similarly comparable try-scoring.
54% of Jersey’s tries have been scored by the Front Row or down the Wings, note Selway, Adair and Watkins above.
Jersey have conceded 29 tries to the Knights’ 23, so the Knights defence has been stronger.
Tries have again been conceded predominantly by the Front Row, then down the Wings but also by Centres.
Elsewhere across England whose results could impact the Knights:
Ealing Trailfinders, (3rd, 5 points above) nip across London to play London Scottish (9th, 3 points below) on Friday
Nottingham ( 4th, 1 point above) travel to the Capital to play London Welsh (7th, 3 points below) on Saturday
Cornish Pirates (6th, 1 point below) welcome Richmond (bottom, won once) on Sunday
Rotherham Titans (8th, 3 points below) host top-placed London Irish on Saturday
Bedford Blues (10th, 4 points below) travel to Leeds to play second-placed Carnegie (added - on Friday)
Jersey Reds (11th, 5 points below) welcome the Knights from Castle Park
In conclusion eight of the twelve Championship teams are within a game of the Knights. London Irish and Carnegie are too far ahead and Richmond are too far behind to be reachable in one game.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
