JERSEY REDS director of rugby heaped praise on everyone at the club – from the players to the back-room staff – as the Championship side made it five wins from five with a six-try win on the road at Caldy.
The tier-two side sit second in the table after Saturday’s 34-19 victory in the north west, with 24 points from a possible 25 – one bonus-point off reigning champions Ealing.
Harvey Biljon has expressed his delight at the Islanders’ best league start since their professional era began a decade ago.
‘I’m pleased for our players with the amount of effort that’s going in,’ he said. ‘I’m pleased for the staff and support team because they are working very hard, from the coaches to the medical team and the analysts and the S&C team, everyone is moving in the right direction together.
‘We won’t get carried away – this is a long, tough season with lots of challenges – but now we’ve got this week off. We’ll let the players have some time off, they need that, let them have some drinks in Liverpool and enjoy the next week off. On the whole we’re pretty happy with them, and then we’ll work hard getting up to speed for Doncaster [21 October].’
Jersey were trailing Caldy 12-10 at the break but the impact of replacements, including injury returnee Ryan Hutler, proved key – as did a few lucky bounces of the ball.
Hutler’s try, in front of an 1,800-plus crowd, led to bear hugs and jubilant scenes from the players, and the result means Jersey end the first handful of games really in the title fight.
Biljon said: ‘Ryan’s try was two years in the making and I’m delighted for him. He’s been very unlucky with injuries, we know he’s a quality finisher, we’ve got belief in him and he showed his quality straight away.
‘It was the big moment for us, it took the wind out of their sails and kept our momentum as we extended our lead.’
