Chairman's Welcome
What a game to start a new decade....two old rivals sitting 2nd and 3rd= in the Championship going head to head to consolidate their league position! What more could you ask for?
Cornish have started the season at a sprint only losing two games in the Championship to date against Newcastle and London Scottish. Notably, they caught Ealing cold in the first game of the season pulling off an impressive 30:10 win at the Mennaye. They will provide the sternest of tests at Stade Santander International this week.
Interestingly, the Reds have also lost to both Ealing and Scottish, as well as away against Newcastle this season, so it's all very tight.
Last week was a real nail-biter with us getting over the line with the last drive of the match against a spirited Hartpury. TJ Harris held his nerve superbly throughout four consecutive line-outs to finally steer a 12 man maul - almost Quarterback-like - across the line with the clock in the red. Fergie-time it certainly was! More again this week please.
We truly welcome all players, coaches, officials and supporters from the Pirates and wish for a great game of rugby.
Come on you Reds!
Harvey's pre-match thoughts...
Hartpury University 9-10 Jersey Reds
The Reds saved a get-out-of-jail card until the final minute of the match, celebrating wildly as TJ Harris steered a 12-man maul to the Hartpury line and touched down for the winning score.
There was relief for the visitors in claiming the points from a match they could have won in the first half, but missed opportunities meant a far tighter conclusion that was harsh on the home side after a plucky effort.
Today's Opposition
Cornish Pirates were Jersey Reds’ first opponents when the Island side arrived in the Greene King IPA Championship, winning by 6-20 at the ground now known as Stade Santander International.
Since the game on September 1st 2012, decided by a hat-trick from Canadian international Matt Evans, the two clubs have developed a healthy rivalry to live up to their unlikely billing as ‘local rivals.’
There have now been 18 league and cup encounters between the sides, 10 of them won by the Reds and eight by the Pirates.
Last season saw a Jersey double in the league, with a 33-10 win at home and former Pirate Aaron Penberthy kicking the winning penalty for a 7-8 success at the Mennaye. But the Pirates finished on top in the Championship Cup quarter-final at the Stade, knocking out their hosts courtesy of a 13-17 win sealed by Dan Koster’s 75th-minute try.
At the end of last season, the Reds finished one place and four points higher in the Championship table, but so far this season the Cornishmen have had the edge and are currently in second place in the table, two places above their rivals.
A great start to the season saw Ealing Trailfinders beaten convincingly by 30-10 at the Mennaye, one of four wins from the opening six league game with the only defeats coming at home to Newcastle (9-18) and by a point away to London Scottish.
Since the conclusion of the pool phase of the Championship Cup – a home quarter-final against Coventry is lined up for late February – the Pirates have had two home wins in the league of contrasting styles: 6-0 against Hartpury just before Christmas, and 52-0 over Yorkshire Carnegie last Sunday.
Meet the opposition
Antonio Kiri Kiri
Kiwi-born Kiri Kiri, now aged 28, signed for the Cornish Pirates in June 2019, having previously played for Yorkshire Carnegie.
A former New Zealand Schools and All Blacks Sevens player, the flanker has also played for Old Boys Marist, was called up to the Blues Super Rugby squad in January 2018, for whom he made three appearances, whilst from 2012-18 he was consistently a standout performer playing in the back-row for Manawatu Turbos, where he was also appointed captain. It was from there, that he joined Yorkshire Carnegie in October 2018.
Injury unfortunately delayed Kiri Kiri making his debut for the Cornish Pirates, however now making his mark he has been a starter in the team’s last four matches.
Rory Parata
Parata is in his second season with the Cornish Pirates. Australian-born, the now aged 25-year-old was educated in Ireland at St. Peter’s Community School in Passage West and at Rockwell College in Cashel. He also, when younger, played Gaelic football.
The centre joined the Pirates from Italian Pro14 side Zebre, having previously represented Munster at youth level and then Irish provincial side Connacht. He had also in the past played for Cork-city based club Sundays Well.
Qualified to play for Australia by birth, plus New Zealand through his father, it was being raised from the age of nine in his mother’s native County Cork that saw Parata capped for Ireland under 19s.
In his first season with the Cornish Pirates, Parata proved a fine acquisition, who was almost ever-present as he made 29 appearances.
Squad update
With the 2019/20 season approaching the halfway mark, Jersey Reds are already looking to the future and have begun building their squad for next season.
Four forwards make up the first tranche of current players who have agreed new deals and will remain on the Island for the 2020/21 season: Rory Bartle, Jake Upfield, Josh Bainbridge and Dan Richardson.
Behind the scenes with the Reds
The 3Ci cameras were allowed behind the scenes on Monday morning when the coaches and playing swaud reviewed the Harputy University match. Click on the video below to see what happened...
Jersey Reds U13s
It all turned out fine in the end.
The hope of a third fast start fizzled out after the first few rucks with Midhurst dominating the contact. Though a little stunned, Jersey hung on well with wave after wave of attack. Special mention must go to Jacob and Jules for their defensive efforts.
When Jersey did get the ball they found it hard to maintain forward momentum and keep the ball. However they worked hard to keep the score at 0-0 until the 25th minute when another wave of Midhurst attack saw an overlap appear and a good score in the corner.
The second half started like the first half ended with another overlap and another score to the home team. Jersey dug deep and slowly started to get into the game. Strong runs from the forwards Ceri, Jacob and Toby saw Jersey starting to play in the Midhurst half. However, the backs were unable to finish. Man of the match Lance started to put pressure on the opposition but still no score for the Jersey.
The last five minutes saw the best of Jersey with the forwards and the back starting to execute their game plan. Pick and drives from the forwards meant they kept momentum and the ball and when the ball was slipped to the backs Lance crashed over in the corner. Midhurst were now looking for the end of the game with Jersey playing some of their best rugby. Alas, time ran out for the Reds with the final score Midhurst 10 Jersey Reds 5.
A special mention must go to the staff at British Airways. A traffic delay saw us watch our plane pull away from the gate, with the pilot waving goodbye. The BA staff assisted the boys return by re-scheduling their later plane, making sure that it could accommodate 18 additional passengers.
Thinking of Australia
Australia is facing some of the most dangerous and catastrophic bushfires they have ever seen. 3Ci caught up with James Wayland & Neil Tunnah who spoke about how family back home in Australia are dealing with the fires.
Credits:
Sue Armes Rich Chapman Oli Pinel Jacquie Ranieri Brian Tempest