Gardner boys show the way

In an always tight and intense game we snatched it at the death with Luke’s converted try.

But, in truth, with St Jacques twice dropping the ball over the line and, perhaps, even getting the ball down once only to be denied a try, the 2nds got a shade lucky.

It was clear that a season-long regular game programme has made St Jacques a much improved and sharper outfit than our lads, many of whom go weeks without playing due to the irregularity of the CI League programme.

A draw would have been a more fitting of a day which obviously meant so much to the host club.

It was spiky from first peep of Dave Mahoney's whistle to last.

Initially, St Jacques, playing with a string wind, dominated and after several phases threatening the visitors' line, Ryan Jordan popped a short pass to fellow back-rower Bjorn van der Kammen who powered in from short range.

The ever dependable Tom Chamberlain added the extras and soon after kicked a straightforward penalty for a 10-0 lead.

The margin was halved when Leon Gardner scored a typical close range forwards try and just before the break Chamberlain kicked a second penalty for a 13-5 interval lead.

Even then, though, you sensed it would not be enough.

From the moment GRFC introduced Jim Regnard to bulk up an out-powered pack, they began to punch holes in the home defence and were increasingly dominant.

The second half saw two early penalties from Bailey narrow the gap to 11-13, but St Jacques twice pushed hard for a second try and it required some desperate defending from GRFC to keep them out.

Chamberlain did land one penalty for 16-11 lead but GRFC had the last laugh with that late Luke Gardner score after a scrum was won against the head close to the posts and he powered in next to a passed upright.

TEAMS

GRFC 2nds: Murdoch, Choules, Jill-Tout, Parr, Martin, Leon Gardner (captain), Rice, Bellingham, Veillard, Alec Bailey, Ahne, O’Hanlon, Challinor, Gladstone and Andy Bailey.

Replacements: Roberts, Ashplant, Moriarty, B. Jones, Regnard, Mooney, Quate, de Freitas and Armstrong.

St Jacques: Dare, Marquis, Le Noury, Mroch, Chamberlain, Cornes, Le Page, Van Der Kammen, McFarlane ©, Penney, Jordan, Addis, Dempsey, Gallienne, Eastwood, Chammings, Cleere, Crawford, Titterington, Pearson, Haimes, Le Feuvre

Referee: Dave Mahoney.