British and Irish Cup: Jersey 14-23 Plymouth Albion

The match was the first time Jersey had ever hosted a night match at St Peter

Plymouth Albion enjoyed their first win in more than eight months, securing a 23-14 victory at Jersey in the British and Irish Cup.

The Devon side dominated the first half and led 20-0 at the break after tries from Eoghan Grace and Neale Patrick.

Jersey hit back as winger Grant Pointer and replacement Nick Haining crossed the whitewash.

But Albion had enough about them to complete the job and taste success for the first time since March.

The game was the first competitive fixture ever to be played at night at Jersey's St Peter ground.

Whilst 2,204 fans helped make it a memorable occasion under the floodlights, the visitors were by far the brightest in the first half despite early problems at the line-out.

Albion fly-half Declan Cusack, making his first start of the season after recovering from long-term injury, gave his side first blood with a straight-forward penalty.

Seconds later Plymouth were further ahead as flanker Grace powered over in the corner and man-of-the-match Cusack converted.

The islanders were having to defend for large parts, and midway through the half scrum-half Ryan Glynn twice had kicks charged down and on the second occasion it bounced kindly for second-rower Patrick to score his side's second.

Jersey improved in the second period and a clever move down the right saw utility-back Pointer go over in the corner.

As time started to tick away Haining forced his way over to give hope of a losing bonus-point but Albion were not about to let this one slip through their fingers after such a long wait for success.

They stay bottom of Pool Five despite the win, but just two points separate top and bottom ahead of Leinster's clash with Carmarthen Quins on Saturday lunchtime.

Grant Pointer scored one of Jersey's two second-half tries but it was not enough for his side to take anything from the game

Jersey: Jones-Davies; Pointer, Bishop (capt), Hoskins, McCrea; Penberthy, Glynn; Lancuba, Harris, Selway; Campbell, Markham; Kaho, Buckle, Noone

Replacements: Lockwood, Garcia-Veiga, Herriott, Rae, Haining, Griffiths, Robling

Plymouth Albion: Arnott; Warner, Woods, Koteczky, Foley; Cusack, Setter; Chapman, Matavesi (capt), Heard; Jubb, Patrick; Langley, Grace, Simmonds

Replacements: Harrison, Pullinger, Bone, Oakley, Henry, Davies, Rayner.

Att: 2,204