St Peter
Pre-season friendly
WARRIORS’ late fightback against Jersey Reds couldn’t prevent them from falling to their second pre-season defeat on Saturday.
The visitors went ahead when Alafoti Faosiliva and Ben Te’o made storming charges, before the latter offloaded to Cooper Vuna who burst down the left flank to score.
Jersey responded immediately, with two Jack Cuthbert penalties edging them in front and the lead was further stretched when Joe Buckle crashed over to score a try.
The hosts could have extended the lead before the break, but Warrirors’ debutant Te’o tackled Regan King to deny a certain score.
Warriors’ other new signing Jackson Willison also had the chance to score on the 40 minute mark when he found space, but the Kiwi failed to find Ben Howard and the ball went out of play to end the half.
Jersey raced out the blocks in the second period and replacement Lewis Robling raced down the right to touch down for their second try.
Hosts’ scrum-half Kieran Hardy then rolled his way over to score and open an 18-point lead with 15 minutes left.
The visitors rung the replacements as they tried to find a way back into the contest and soon found the momentum behind them, when Vuna ran in for his second try out wide.
Then some fine work from the backs switched the ball wide to Andy Short, who danced around the last Jersey defender to touch down beneath the posts.
Ryan Lamb converted to set up a pulsating finale, but the hosts held on for victory.
n The Warriors Development XV drew 28-28 with Bristol Rugby on Friday night at Sixways.
Warriors’ tries came from Jamie Shillcock and Alex Hearle and a converted penalty try plus three Tiff Eden penalties.
Bristol had led 14-3 in the first half and then 21-13, with a penalty try and tries from Charlie Amesbury, Marc Jones, Andy Uren plus three Billy Searle conversions.
Warriors travel to Munster on Friday for their final pre-season encounter, ahead of the Premiership’s curtain-raiser on Saturday, September 3 against Saracens at Twickenham.