THERE was a satisfying buzz about the clubhouse on Saturday tea-time after a day which saw the club underpin a rare inter-insular win over Jersey with a satisfying 17-17 draw for the first XV over high-flying Old Elthamians who had come to Footes Lane with three straight wins under their belts.
More of the inter-insular triumph in a moment, but there was great encouragement in the way with the firsts overcame a worrying start - they conceded a penalty inside the first two minutes - and yet threatened to produce a shock win over big rivals OEs when Shane Taylor went over for a thrilling try midway through the second period which gave the home side a 17-11 lead.
OEs struck back with two penalties to level the match and preserve their unbeaten record, but a draw was a decent outcome for Jordan's side who showed that there is still big potential to do well in this testing National 3 London and SE league.
Young Shane's try was the undoubted highlight and the way he sprinted off the left flank and ran over in between the posts might have our fellow Footes Lane tenants at the Guernsey Athletic Club sniffing around with the idea that there is a potential new sprinter in their midst.
The two league points accrued were sadly not enough to lift us out of the bottom three, but it could have been worse had Barking not lost so narrowly at home to Barnes and the Thurrock-Basingstoke clash not been postponed. Those two sides remain on what they would say in The Jeux sans Frontiers days: 'Nil Points'
It is quite obvious that this division has become even more competitive this season and there is so little to choose between the 14 sides.
Preceding that league game the mix of 2nds, Colts and the odd St Jacques players combined well to beat Jersey 18-10 and lift the inter-insular trophy for the first time since 2009.
Dale Rutledge was superb for the winners with 13 of the 18 points to his name, while Mark Stone, one of a triumvirate of coaches guiding the select side, enthused about the display.
'Any win over Jersey is a good win,' he said with a celebratory pint in his hand a couple of hours later.
'We did well bringing in the two St Jacques guys and the Academy players and integrating them into our ways in training.
'The forwards played really well coping with the conditions and played a good driving game.
'Sadly the weather didn't make it a great one for the backs.'
'Dave O'Hanlon made some great tackles and the two Academy guys Tom Chammings and Connor Sullivan were outstanding.'
For the record the Guernsey points scorers this weekend were:

Inter-insular: Rutledge and Callum Murdoch a try apiece; 1 Rutledge conversion and two penalties.
1st XV: Lewis Hillier and Shane Taylor tries; Sam Whitehead 2 conversions and 1 penalty