Jersey Triumph at Home Nations

– At the seventh attempt, Jersey have taken England’s title, held since inception of the event in 2000.

After the first day’s play, marked by unseasonable rain, Jersey led with 36 wins, as opposed to England’s 29. Scotland followed with 21 and then Wales with ten wins.

In all the previous six times Jersey has taken part in the competition, Sunday has been more difficult and so it proved this year. After round 11, going into the last set of games against England, Jersey had 62 wins, against England’s 56, a lead of six. Two wins would be enough; one win, leading to a draw would not be sufficient, as England’s points difference was higher than Jersey’s.

After the first four games yielded losses, there were sweaty palms and furrowed brows in the Jersey camp, the possibility of victory slipping away all too real. Then Jersey Two – Matt Pinel, John Lane & James Rondel, with accurate firing from Matt and great placing from John & James, came good with a 13-4 win. Within minutes, Jersey Six, Gary Cowburn, Andy Limbrick, Katrina Holden and Paul Waters pulled off another 13-4 win thanks to impressive firing from Gary. The last two games were lost by Jersey but that didn’t matter, two was enough and England’s 24 year reign had come to an end.

Top Jersey team were Matt, John & James with 10 wins out of 12. Second were Jersey Eight, Derek & Joy Hart and Ross Churchill, also with 10 wins but a slightly poorer points difference. Third were Jersey One, Geoffroy Buffetrille, Andy Bellamy-Burt & Callum Stewart with eight wins, plus 42. In fourth place, also with eight wins, plus 31 were Jersey Seven – Toby Northern, David Hunter, Cassie Stewart-Le Gallais & Alan Oliviera. Jersey Five also had eight wins, but plus five (Brian Harris, Wendy Ritzema, Steve Leathem & Lorna Limbrick) and with seven wins were Jersey Six – Gary, Andy, Katrina & Paul and Jersey Three – Laurent Pellaton, Ross Payne & Neil Selby. Jersey Four – Gavin Scott, Alan Lahiffe & Mat Scholefield recorded six wins. In no previous time Jersey had entered the competition had no teams scored less than six wins, a super achievement.

The victorious Jersey Team, with manager David Ibitson holding the trophy

Full results by round, team & nation are available to view at the “Documents” page and a special “In The Circle” Home Nations edition is also available at the same page.