A bright start from the Green and Whites was tarnished by injury troubles that led to a difficult 41-16 loss in Jersey on Saturday 12 January.

Nottingham had established an early lead through the boot of the Championship’s leading point scorer Shane O’Leary. Three penalties in fifteen minutes put the away team in a strong position but an early injury to lock Llewelyn Jones proved to be a difficult blow to take.

Jersey then registered their first points of the afternoon when Brett Herron poked the ball through the Nottingham defence, that was down a man through an injury to Murray McConnell, to collect it himself and score a try. A try from Leeroy Van Dam on the 29th minute saw the hosts take the lead.

The first half ended 14-9 with the game very much in the balance.

Jersey started the second half strong, scoring a penalty and a try within three minutes. Nottingham’s trademark togetherness and spirit saw Murray McConnell score a try and his side looked to fight their way back into the game.

However, Nottingham’s injury woes came back to haunt them when Sam Lewis, who replaced Llewelyn Jones, was forced to leave the field, flanker George Cox came into the back row with Jordan Coghlan moving to second row in his stead.

With the Green and Whites using a makeshift pack and down to six backs due to an injury to Jack Spittle following a try-saving defence, The Reds showed their ruthless streak. Scoring two tries and a penalty, the hosts established a commanding lead which ultimately led to victory.

Despite the loss, Nottingham still sit in sixth place in the table with only six points between them and third place Ealing. Neil Fowkes will now prepare his side for a tough test on Friday night when they host league leaders London Irish at The Bay under the Friday Night Lights.

Advance tickets for the game can be purchased via the club’s ticketing website here.

JERSEY REDS: Slowik; Marx (Penberthy 34), Newey, Ma’afu, Van Dam; Herron, Homer (Mudariki 71); Morley (Godfrey 46), Maddison (Selway 58), Atalifo (Rodman 54), Sexton (c), Beckett, Bartle (Upfield 65), Argyle, Venter (Hatherell 58).

NOTTINGHAM: Scanlon; Spittle, Millett, Peters (Lyons 59), Varndell; O’Leary, McConnell (c) (Veenendaal 50); Hills (Jack 58), Farnworth, Daniels (Heffernan 61), Jones (Lewis 15, Cox 48), Buckley, Coghlan, Owen (Brownlie 67), Poullet.

REFEREE: Dean Richards. Assistants: Bill Burton, Tim Bailey
ATTENDANCE: 1,337
Half Time: 14-9
Man-of-the-match (as chosen by match-day sponsor Carey Olsen): Brett Herron (Jersey Reds)

Scorers

Jersey Reds
Tries: Herron 19, Van Dam 29, Maddison 43, Homer 59, Selway 78
Conversions: Herron 19, 29, 43, 59, 78
Penalties: Herron 41, 50

Nottingham
Try: McConnell 45
Conversion: O’Leary 45
Penalties: O’Leary 3, 11, 16