Match report from Steve Barnes

Trojans Colts 1st XV v Jersey Colts.
Sunday 8th March 2015 2.00pm
League – Cup Division
Playing Condition – Overcast, occasional light drizzle.
There have been some interesting Trojans/Jersey games over the last couple of seasons, including a postponement 5 minutes before KO, and abandonment due to torrential rain, and a 75-0 defeat. Today’s match had the makings of a much more even affair.
Jersey Knocked-on straight from the kick off, setting T’s up for a period of early and constant pressure. T’s strong start was rewarded with 5 points, courtesy of James Herbert. T’s early dominance continued, and Chris Hull was close to adding a second try. Although T’s offence looked strong, defence did not. Jersey’s first real attacking move, resulted in a sixty metre gain, before T’s laid a finger on a Jersey player. Although it looked like T’s had steadied the ship, Jersey scored on the second phase, and slotted over the conversion. Then straight from the re-start, T’s were penalised for being in front of the kicker. And in a repeat of their early try, Jersey strode though T’s half unopposed to score again. So after dominating territory for almost 30 minutes, T’s found themselves 7 points behind! Kal Traynor had a penalty opportunity to cut the deficit, but the kick was just wide. T’s centre pairing of Barnes and Evenhand had looked threatening all half and with half time approaching, it was Dan Barnes, who fed Luke Joslin to score T’s second try. Converted by Kal Traynor. Indeed only seconds later, Dan Barnes kicked through and went close to adding a third.

HT Trojans 12-12 Jersey.

An early T’s penalty allowed Kal to put T’s back in the lead and then an excellent interception by Matt Evenhand, and a 40 metre dash, gave T’s a third try. Jersey were far from beaten though, and only strong defending managed to hold Jersey up, when over the line. Only Minutes later, Jersey crossed the T’s line, but this time they grounded the ball and converted, leaving T’s with only a one point lead. Then the tackle of all tackles by Matt Evenhand, left Jersey reeling. Their fullback sliced an attempted clearance, and the ball landed right in the hands of Big Jim Herbert, who crossed for his second try. More Jersey pressure could have cut the deficit, but in the end, T’s held out for a well deserved 8 point win.
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Final Score Trojans 27-19 Jersey.
Tries
Herbert x 2, Joslin, Evenhand
Conversions
Traynor x 2
Penalties
Traynor.
In Summary, a hard fought win, which might have been more comfortable, but for a ten minute period of non-tackling late in the first half.
Man of the Match.
A great team performance today, but also some outstanding individual performances. Matt Dodkins had a fine game at scrum half, and Connor Jack did everything right at full back. When big Jim Herbert scores two tries, you would normally give him MOTM. However today, and not just for that crunching tackle, but a fine all round game,
Trojans Man Of The Match is Matt Evenhand.
Now onwards to Exeter for next week’s tour!

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