Channel Islands rugby team beats Poland 38-27 in Jersey

The Channel Islands rugby union team beat Poland 38-27 in their second annual “international” match.

Jack McFarlane crossed in the left corner to give the hosts a ninth-minute lead, but two Dan Tomanek penalties saw Poland go 6-5 up after 16 minutes.

Anthony Armstrong went over on the right wing to put the islands 10-6 up midway through the first half.

Charlie Wilkinson was mauled over shortly before half-time after Polish prop Peet Vorster had been sent to the sin-bin.

But despite being a man down the visitors mauled Patryk Reksulak over the Channel Island line just before the break as the hosts led 17-13 at the break.

Armstrong scored an excellent try to make it 24-13 after 55 minutes before the islands had prop Huw Owen yellow-carded seven minutes later.

But despite being a man down the islands got a fifth try when Armstrong set up Scott van Breda to go over in the corner soon after.

The Poles – ranked 30th in the world – pulled back a try six minutes later when Jersey-based international Eryk Swiech went over to make it 31-20.

But replacement Matt Creber put the gloss on the game for the Channel Islands when he went in from close range before Reksulak scored a consolation try for Poland in the final moments.

The game at St Peter in Jersey was the combined side’s second match after they beat Sweden 66-28 at Footes Lane in Guernsey last year.