Jersey in cruise control as they beat Guernsey

SIAM CUP

■ By BEN JAYCOCK

SPURRED on by several former Reds players in their starting line-up, Jersey regained the Siam Cup by beating Guernsey at St Peter.

Jersey’s men scored five tries as they cruised to a 36-11 win over their rivals, while the women’s team also proved victorious to inflict a club double on Guernsey and gain revenge for their shortcomings last season, with a 30-13 victory courtesy of Taye Boake-Yiadom’s hat-trick of tries.

“We’re ecstatic,” said Jersey men’s captain Evan Whitson. “It was a good performance by us, we knew that Guernsey were coming and we just came out firing in the first 20 minutes. We’re really chuffed with that performance, there was a lot of emotion this week, and we really built on that throughout the week.”

Jersey women’s star player Boake-Yiadom said: “We really wanted it today and we’re all buzzing getting that cup back on home turf. I think it doesn’t matter who you are, I’m going to run through and I’m going to get to that try line. That try line is my happy place, I love it and I’m just buzzing.”

Jersey men led 10-0 after 32 minutes thanks to Jerry Sexton’s try and an Aaron Penberthy penalty.

Ciaran McGann’s penalty made it 10-3 before former Jersey Reds, Exeter and London Irish forward Sexton – the brother of Ireland legend Johnny – made it 17-3 while a second McGann penalty reduced the deficit to 17-6at the break.

Another former Red -ex-Wasps and Leicester forward Guy Thompson – extended Jersey’s lead to 21 points when he crossed six minutes into the second period.

Penberthy scored Jersey’s fourth try soon after, before another former Red, Scott van Breda, made it 36-6 with 12 minutes left.

Anthony Armstrong went over for a consolation try for Guernsey with five minutes left to round off a fine season.