It was a long, bruising day for East Grinstead RFC—one that started well before the first whistle. The squad were forced into a brutal 3am wake-up call for their flight. Multiple players reported that sleep was made nearly impossible thanks to Jack Andrew’s thunderous, room-shaking snoring, which echoed through the changing rooms like a loose scrum machine rolling downhill.

Despite the exhaustion, East Grinstead showed real grit. They crossed the line three times, with Ali Moffat, Sam McCarthy, and Louis Duvall each grabbing a well-worked try. Their efforts kept the visitors competitive in patches, but Jersey Royals were relentless, capitalising on tired legs and limited defensive cover to pull away and finish 54–17 winners.

A special mention must go to Harrison Berry, who earned man of the match. With the backs stretched thin and no replacements available, Harrison stepped up and covered multiple roles throughout the game, showing huge work-rate, composure, and commitment.

It wasn’t the result East Grinstead hoped for—but given the fact that Jersey royals are in a league higher up, as well as the travel chaos and sleep-deprivation, the team can take pride in the character they showed.