Guernsey Raiders took the Channel Islands bragging rights with a convincing 36-19 win over Jersey RFC on a sunny summer’s day at CoinShares Park.
It was a tough day at the office for the men in red on their second National Two East outing since promotion at the end of the 2025/26 season. And while the campaign is still in its early stages, the signs are that Guernsey may attain a high position in the table this season, certainly compared with the 11th position in which they finished 25/26.
There was little to choose between the old rivals after the first 40 minutes. The home side went ahead early as fly-half Dan Hawkes collected his own chip ahead and touched down, before a mauled effort by Joe Wrafter and a try by Anthony Armstrong – a late replacement for his cousin Alexander (according to one dodgy preview) – in the corner put Guernsey ahead.
A Jersey counter from deep in their own half saw George Willmott collect Mark Boarer’s long kick ahead for the go-ahead score, with the number eight the beneficiary of good work by wing Lance Armstrong, who outpaced and outwitted his older brother and Guernsey counterpart Matt to leave the way clear for his team-mate to pick up and crash over.
The visitors nudged a point ahead at half-time (14-15) thanks to John Dawe’s try.
Guernsey stepped up their intensity as soon as the game restarted, with early pressure resulting in a yellow card for Jersey’s Luke Bowles for bringing down a maul, followed by two Raiders’ tries in four minutes. Dawe grabbed his second just after Matt Creber burst through to the line.
Boarer’s quick thinking and lightning pace helped his side get back into the game as a Raiders pass went astray in the centre of the field and the Jersey full-back snapped it up and raced 55 metres to the line, although Hawkes’ conversion effort was charged down.
The final quarter was dominated territorially by Guernsey, although the visitors were only able to add seven more points through Matt Armstrong’s try in the corner and a well-struck conversion by Gwyn Parks, his third of the afternoon. The home side had been disrupted by injuries, including skipper Dan Barnes being forced from the field, and were also back down to 14 men as prop Jack Higgins earned his team’s second yellow card for spoiling opposition ball from an offside position.
Five points on the road for the second week running leaves the Raiders with a maximum haul at the top end of the table, while Jersey’s bonus point against London Welsh is all they have to show for their efforts across their first two games back in the fourth tier.
While the island neighbours have played each other annually for the Siam Cup, the second-oldest trophy in international rugby, for more than 90 years, league fixtures between the two sides are rare, with yesterday’s match at CoinShares Park being the first since a Hampshire 1 encounter in September 1994.
JRFC now face back-to-back away games against Leicester Lions and Henley Hawks, with the Hawks also facing a trip to Guernsey next Saturday. Meanwhile Jersey RFC Women are preparing for their opening league game, when Lordswood Valkyries will visit CoinShares Park on Saturday September 26th (k-o 12.30pm).
Jersey gained some consolation later in the afternoon with a convincing win in the subsequent match between the 2nd XVs – it finished 43-10.
Jersey RFC
Starting backs (15-9)
Mark Boarer; Lance Armstrong, Dylan Stocks, Dan Barnes (capt), Rhys Thomas; Daniel Hawkes, Harry Cochrane.
Starting forwards (1-8)
Huw Owen, Jake Bates, Jack Higgins, Toby Osborne, Luke Bowles, Tom Tilstone, Kade Bird, George Willmott.
Replacements (16-20)
Joe Ridgway, Tom Wilson, James Guyatt, Freddie Earnshaw, Harry Baty.
Scores:
Jersey RFC
Tries: Hawkes 3, Willmott 32, Boarer 53
Cons: Hawkes 3, 32
Guernsey Raiders
Tries: Wrafter 11, Armstrong A 22, Dawe 39, 49, Creber 46, Armstrong M 64
Cons: Evans 46, 49, 64
Yellow Cards: Bowles (Jsy) 42, Higgins (Jsy) 61
Attendance: 940
